Departmental Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many and what percentage of staff in her Office were making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions in each of the last two years.

Helen Goodman: Due to a machinery of Government change in May 2007, the Leader of the House of Commons Office now forms part of the Cabinet Office. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be answering this question shortly on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	Pension scheme members receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of pension on retirement if the member continues in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement provides details of the civil service pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including on options for making additional voluntary contributions to boost their pension.

Age: Discrimination

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with other government departments on discrimination in the supply of goods and services to people on the basis of age.

Barbara Follett: Since the Discrimination Law Review was launched in February 2005 we have consulted widely across Whitehall on this matter. In particular we have had detailed discussions with the Domestic Affairs (Communities and Equality) Committee Departments.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited to the Government Equalities Office in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: The Prime Minister announced the establishment of GEO on 26 July 2007 and since then we have not recruited anyone over the age of 55.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what arrangements  (a) have been and  (b) are to be put in place by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to develop and consolidate relationships with (i) the Mayor's office and (ii) the Greater London Assembly.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 10 March 2008
	In November 2007. the Equality and Human Rights Commission's chief executive met with the Mayor's Director of Equalities and Policing and other key GLA staff to discuss how the new Commission could work with the Greater London Authority (GLA) on promoting equality and tackling discrimination across London. Since then, Commission staff have met regularly with GLA officers to progress these issues.
	The Commission is currently drawing up its business plan for 2008-09 and its stakeholder strategy to promote this work. This will include further arrangements to strengthen links between the Commission and the GLA. The Commission will also be engaging with the London Assembly to ensure its members are informed and, where appropriate, involved in its work on behalf of Londoners.

Departmental Correspondence

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters his Department received in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: The total number of mail items that the Scotland Office receives is not recorded. The number of items received for ministerial and official reply in the last four years are recorded, as follows:
	
		
			   Number of items for ministerial or official reply 
			 2004-05 1,338 
			 2005-06 1,249 
			 2006-07 1,273 
			 2007-08 1,489 
		
	
	In addition, over 3,000 other pieces of correspondence have been received in the ministerial private office in each of the last two years.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department's budget.

David Cairns: The UK Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continue to work very closely with both the Women's National Commission and the Women's Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
	In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
	In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate departmental expenditure statistics by gender.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department and its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by staff grade.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not separately record expenditure on first class travel. All travel is undertaken by the most efficient and costs effective way, in accordance with the "Civil Service Management Code" and the "Ministerial Code", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis; the 2006-07 edition was published on 25 July 2007 and is also available in the Library of the House.

Eurostar

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on  (a) first and  (b) other class travel by Eurostar in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not separately record expenditure on Eurostar journeys. All travel is undertaken by the most efficient and costs effective way, in accordance with the "Civil Service Management Code" and the "Ministerial Code", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. Information relating to overseas travel by Ministers is published on an annual basis; the 2006-07 edition was published on 25 July 2007 and is also available in the Library of the House.

Bus Services: Pensioners

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pensioners have claimed free bus travel in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the north-east and  (d) the UK in each year since its inception.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not hold information about the number of pensioners who have claimed free travel at the level requested. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) administers the concessionary travel scheme that covers  (a) Jarrow, and  (b) South Tyneside. Tyne and Wear PTE reported to the Department that it had 219,703 concessionary travel passes in circulation. For the  (c) north-east region reported 466,445 passes in circulation.
	For  (d), it is not known how many people in the UK have claimed free bus travel. Concessionary travel is a devolved issue so Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own arrangements.
	In England, around 11 million older and eligible disabled people may benefit from the improved geographic coverage of the statutory minimum bus travel concession from 1 April this year. To date, around 7.5 million people have taken up passes. In the constituency of Jarrow, over 16,000 people are eligible for concessionary travel.

Dartford Tunnel: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of residents of  (a) Bexley,  (b) Havering,  (c) Gravesham and  (d) Sevenoaks local authority areas who made fewer than 10 single journeys per annum over the Dartford River Crossing in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of residents of  (a) Bexley,  (b) Havering,  (c) Gravesham and  (d) Sevenoaks local authority areas who made more than 50 single journeys per annum over the Dartford River Crossing in each of the last three years;
	(3)  how many people in the  (a) Bexley,  (b) Havering,  (c) Gravesham and  (d) Sevenoaks local authority areas live within (i) six miles and (ii) 10 miles of the Dartford River Crossing.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not made estimates for the figures requested.

Drinking Water

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on bottled water in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department spent £102,834 on bottled water during the latest year for which figures are available. This includes spend on associated items such as cooler units and water provided to members of the public: by the Highways Agency Traffic Officer service during major incidents and driving test candidates at Driving Standards Agency driving test centres.
	At our main London HQ buildings we will be ending the provision of bottled water for meetings as a priority and providing tap water instead. This will take a short time to arrange, as we use up existing stocks and purchase carafes.
	The data exclude spend by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and regional offices of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency where spend is not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Heathrow Airport: Noise

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration was given to the noise costs indicated by the attitudes to noise from aviation sources in England study in drawing up the financial estimates in the adding capacity at Heathrow consultation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government said at the time of publication of the ANASE study they would take the findings into account in developing air transport policy. However, as the independent peer reviewers made clear, the study could not provide a reliable way of attaching a monetary figure to the impact of aircraft noise.
	Consequently, and pending the availability of a better alternative, we applied existing valuations for road and rail noise in the cost benefit analysis for the adding capacity at Heathrow consultation.

Metronet: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Metronet's weekly cost to the public purse has been since it went into administration; and from what budget the costs are met.

Rosie Winterton: On 6 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 74-76WS, the Secretary of State made a written statement on the spending review settlement reached with Transport for London. This statement includes cover for costs arising from Metronet's administration.
	It is now for Transport for London to manage their costs and priorities within their overall financial envelope.

Night Flying: East Midlands

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many night flights there were from  (a) East Midlands Airport and  (b) designated London airports in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 10 March 2008
	Night flights at the three London designated airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) are subject to restriction. With some exemptions, a movements and noise quota limit applies during the night quota period (11.30 pm to 6.00 am). The following table sets out the number of movements of aircraft subject to these controls. While there are restrictions on the type of aircraft that can be operated during the shoulder periods (11.00 pm to 11.30 pm and 6 am to 7 am) there are no limits on movements or quota during these periods.
	
		
			  T otal number of movements in night quota period (11.30 pm to 6 am) 
			   Heathrow  Gatwick  Stansted 
			 Summer 1997 3007 8,095 2,821 
			 1997-98(1) 5,506 11,472 7,899 
			 1998-99 6,194 12,467 5,451 
			 1999-00 5,752 12,822 6,291 
			 2000-01 5,886 14,324 7,260 
			 2001-02 5,952 12,226 7,786 
			 2002-03 5,977 11,954 7,695 
			 2003-04 5,831 12,979 7,934 
			 2004-05 5,843 13,939 8,958 
			 2005-06 5,973 14,193 9,755 
			 2006-07 6,238 12,909 11,067 
			 (1) i.e. Winter/summer.  Note: The totals relate to movements covered by the Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted noise restrictions. They include some movements which were disregarded from movements limits because of delays to aircraft which were likely to lead to serious congestion at the aerodrome or serious hardship or suffering to passengers or animals; or because of delays to aircraft resulting from widespread and prolonged disruption of air traffic. 
		
	
	No similar regime involving a night quota period is in place at East Midlands. Flights are recorded on a calendar year basis and on a night period basis (11.00 pm to 7 pm). Accordingly this data is not compatible with that provided.
	
		
			  Total number of movements in night period (11.00 pm to 7 am) 
			   East Midlands 
			 1997 16,071 
			 1998 14,651 
			 1999 14,731 
			 2000 16,565 
			 2001 15,418 
			 2002 17,158 
			 2003 17,468 
			 2004 17,079 
			 2005 16,544 
			 2006 17,998 
			 2007 19,888

Southern: Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 9-10W, on rolling stock: Brighton, what assessment  (a) she and  (b) Southern has made of the capacity of diesel rolling stock available to that company to accommodate passenger demand on the (i) Brighton-Ashford and (ii) other railway lines; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Train operating companies make decisions about the deployment of rolling stock to match customer demand.
	The Department for Transport will continue to review train counts and train plans to check that resources are being deployed effectively.
	The rail White Paper was published in July 2007. It sets out the resources we intend to make available to the rail industry and the increases in capacity, as well as safety and performance that we expect the industry to deliver in return.

Transport: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2757-58W, on housing: infrastructure, what work programmes have been evaluated for the infrastructure improvements needed to meet new housing developments recommended for the Bournemouth area.

Rosie Winterton: The recommendations on housing developments for Bournemouth are those of an Independent Panel that examined the draft regional spatial strategy for the South West. As part of the Government's consideration of the report of the Panel published in January 2008, the Departments for Transport and Communities and Local Government are considering the transport implications of the proposed levels of growth. No conclusions have been reached by the Government on any of the Panel's recommendations.
	Bournemouth borough council has not put forward proposals to the Government for new housing growth in its area. However, in relation to proposals for growth from Poole council, the Department is working with Poole and its neighbouring authorities including Bournemouth to examine the transport impact of the planned growth in the area.
	The Departments for Transport and Communities and Local Government have provided £200,000 towards the cost of studies by Poole and its neighbouring authorities to assess the need for transport infrastructure improvements and to ensure that the proposed housing growth is sustainable and acceptable environmentally.

Transport: Kent

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which integrated transport projects undertaken by Kent County Council in North Kent have been financed by the proceeds of the Dartford River Crossing tolls; and in which constituencies those projects are located.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has made available £1 million per year extra since 2003 to Kent county council, to help deliver local transport projects. This is in recognition of the impact of the crossing on local residents.
	This funding is provided as an addition to the local transport block capital allocation for Kent county council, which in 2007-08 totalled £36.737 million. Responsibility for allocating these funds is a matter for Kent county council, and the Department does not require the authority to provide detailed returns on its decisions.

Travel: Concessions

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that local authorities receive funding from central Government to fully cover the costs of implementing the national concessionary fares scheme.

Rosie Winterton: The Government are confident that the overall level of funding for the statutory minimum provision of concessionary travel is sufficient to cover the full cost.
	Following the introduction of the free off-peak local bus travel concession within local authority areas in April 2006, central Government provided an extra £350 million in 2006-07 and £367.5 million in 2007-08 for statutory concessionary fares through the revenue support grant. The Department is now paying an additional special grant of £212 million in 2008-09 (and rising thereafter) just to cover the cost of extending the statutory minimum bus concession to provide free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England. This additional amount of £212 million is based on our assessment of the likely cost impact of the new concession which is based on generous assumptions about pass take-up, fares and increased patronage.
	The proposed distribution of this grant was published by the Department for Transport in the Special Grant Report (No. 129) on 19 February. The final distribution will be subject to parliamentary debate and a copy of the report is in the Library of the House.
	In addition, the Government paid a grant of over £31 million in total to travel concession authorities (TCAs) in England outside London in this financial year (2007-08) to cover the cost of issuing concessionary travel passes. The passes grant to each TCA is based on an allowance of £4 for each pass currently in circulation, uplifted by 20 per cent. to recognise that the new concession is likely to be more attractive than the existing one.

Charities: Income Tax

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government plans to take in relation to the potential effects on charities in receipt of gift aid of the new basic rate of income tax to be introduced in April 2008.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 12 March 2008
	HM Treasury has recently consulted on ways to drive up charitable giving from individuals through gift aid.
	The Government published their response to the consultation at Budget.

Child Tax Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2800W, on welfare tax credits, how many of the households with positive entitlement to child tax credit did not claim it in 2005-06.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC tax credit statistics show that take-up of the child tax credit was 82 per cent. by case load in 2005-06, rising to 96 per cent. for those families with children on the lowest incomes. Consistent take-up estimates for families classified as being in poverty according to the definition used in "Households Below Average Income" are not available.

Departmental Recruitment

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what civil service grade his Department's Director, Public Services is; how the position was advertised; which search consultants were involved; what references were taken up for the successful candidate; at what level the decision to appoint was taken; and whether Ministers were involved in the decision.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 10 March 2008
	The Director of Public Services is graded as senior civil service payband 2.
	Rockpools were engaged by the Department to assist with the recruitment campaign and the post was advertised in the  Sunday Times on 9 December 2007.
	In line with the Civil Service Commissioners' recruitment code, the selection panel was chaired by a Civil Service Commissioner and comprised the Treasury's 2nd Permanent Secretary, along with an external representative. No Ministers were involved in the decision-making process.
	Appropriate references were obtained on the successful candidate in line with the Department's policy on pre-employment checks.

Departmental: Written Questions

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written questions to his Department had not received an answer as at 25 February 2008 for  (a) between two and four,  (b) between four and six,  (c) between six and eight and  (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is given in the table:
	
		
			  Weeks  Questions awaiting answer (named day component) 
			 2-4 13 (-) 
			 4-6 14 (2) 
			 6-8 11 (1) 
			 8 + 17 (1) 
		
	
	Treasury Ministers have answered substantively 2,123 House of Commons written questions in the present session. Over the preceding seven sessions since 2000-01, some 78 per cent. of the 26,493 written questions received by the Treasury were answered substantively on or before the due date.

HM Revenue and Customs: Bonuses

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used to determine  (a) the total amount available for bonus payments to HM Revenue and Customs staff in each pay year and  (b) the amounts awarded to individuals as bonuses.

Jane Kennedy: A common pay framework for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) is determined by the Cabinet Office, and not delegated to individual Departments. This framework includes incentive payments for the highest performing staff who can demonstrate that they have delivered the outcomes expected of them and service improvements that matter to the public. The Cabinet Office also determines the size of the overall SCS bonus pot each year.
	Full details of SCS pay criteria and awards are set out annually by the Senior Salaries Review Body. Their 29th Report on Senior Salaries 2007 (Cm 7030) includes a review of the pay system in 2005-06 and recommendations for 2006-07.
	In accordance with this guidance, HMRC paid performance awards in four non-consolidated, non-pensionable tranches for 2006-07: zero, minimum (£3,000), medium (9 per cent. of base salary) and high (15 per cent. of base salary). Payment of these bonuses was made in November 2007.
	Pay for other staff is delegated to individual Departments, who are expected to negotiate pay deals with their staff in accordance with Pay Remit Guidance issued by HM Treasury. HMRC agreed a three-year pay remit with the Treasury in 2005, and a three-year pay settlement with staff and unions for pay awards in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08. HMRC has made provision for a proportion of the overall funds available to be invested in non-consolidated performance awards.
	HMRC's bonus pot of 0.80 per cent. is currently below the minimum level of 2.5 per cent. recommended in the pay remit guidance. HMRC's pay settlement provides for a payment for a "top performer" of between 2.5 per cent. and 5 per cent. of salary, and a smaller payment for a "good performer" whose salary has reached the range maximum.
	HMRC sets the actual percentage of performance awards paid each year on the basis of affordability, after analysing performance marks received by staff and the resulting cost implications.

HM Revenue and Customs: Whitehaven

Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how staff from the HM Revenue and Customs office in Whitehaven will be consulted on the future of the office.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes its proposals on its internal staff intranet at the start of any review, and wherever possible business units hold face to face meetings with staff to explain and discuss the proposals. Staff are invited to comment on them, either individually or as part of a team, via a dedicated e-mail facility. Staff can also engage with their trade unions to put forward their views.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue that would be raised by a one per cent. increase in the higher rate of income tax, based upon  (a) 2007-08 tax bands and  (b) 2008-09 tax bands.

Jane Kennedy: The cost or yield from a 1p change in the higher rate of income tax is regularly published in the "Tax ready reckoner and tax reliefs", copies of which are in the Library, and in table 1.6 on the HM Revenue and Customs' website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/menu.htm
	An updated version of table 1.6 reflecting changes announced in Budget 2007 which take effect from April 2008 is due to be published at the end of April.

Landfill Tax

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of the landfill levy was allocated as tax foregone in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005,  (c) 2006 and  (d) 2007;
	(2)  what income he received from the operation of the landfill levy in  (a) 2004,  (b) 2005,  (c) 2006 and  (d) 2007;
	(3)  what the disbursements from tax foregone on the landfill levy to  (a) environmental trusts and other bodies and  (b) Business Resource Efficiency and Waste were in (i) 2004, (ii) 2005, (iii) 2006 and (iv) 2007.

Angela Eagle: Latest landfill tax receipts are published by HM Revenue and Customs at
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulllandfill
	This also includes estimates of tax foregone as a result of contributions to environmental bodies (EBs) through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF); the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme is not funded via tax foregone.
	Information submitted to ENTRUST, the regulatory body for the LCF, shows the total contributions received by EBs as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004 46,610,695 
			 2005 52,723,090 
			 2006 56,013,671 
			 2007 64,549,433

Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information

John Gummer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has authorised the purchase by HM Revenue and Customs of information suspected to be stolen;
	(2)  whether he has had discussions with the Principality of Liechtenstein on the return of stolen information to the Bank of Liechtenstein;
	(3)  what code of ethics applies to the procurement by HM Revenue and Customs of suspected stolen documentation;
	(4)  whether he has had discussions with the Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs on the purchase by HM Revenue and Customs of suspected stolen documents.

Jane Kennedy: Handling information relating to the administration of taxes is an operational matter for HMRC, who discuss a wide range of taxation issues with international businesses and tax authorities.
	The Government have bi-lateral international treaties which provide for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to work with other countries' tax administrations to secure and share information to prevent double taxation, to prevent fraud and avoidance, and to implement domestic law.
	In relation to other aspects of the handling of this individual case, I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 10 March 2008,  Official Report, column 116W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable).

VAT

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much value added tax was collected in each local authority area in England in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Geographical analysis of where VAT is collected is not available.

VAT: Plastic Bags

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of value added tax revenue raised on re-usable shopping bags in 2006.

Jane Kennedy: No estimate has been made.

Working Tax Credit: Morecambe

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency received working tax credit in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: In 2005-06, the average number of families receiving working tax credits in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency was 3,400.
	This information is from the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2005-06. Geographical Analysis", which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

Departmental Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how many and what percentage of staff in his Office were making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions in each of the last two years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Tom Watson) today.

Fairtrade Initiatives

Michael Moore: To ask the Prime Minister what his Office's policy is on the use of fair trade goods  (a) in staff catering facilities and  (b) at official departmental functions and meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Tom Watson) today.

Archaeology: Flag Fen

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to offer financial or other assistance to the Flag Fen bronze age site near Peterborough to  (a) continue and  (b) expand its (i) exhibition and (ii) excavation work; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 10 March 2008
	 Since 1988-89 English Heritage, the Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, has given around £356,000 to the Fenland Archaeological Trust (FAT) for surveys, excavation, analysis, detailed publication and public presentation of the Flag Fen site and its surroundings. £300,000 of this was given through the former Archaeology Commissions programme (now Historic Environment Enabling Programme). A further £56,000 was contributed through regional grant aid specifically for the Preservation Hall. In addition to this expenditure a popular account of the site was published in the English Heritage/Batsford series on England's archaeology. In 2008-09 English Heritage will be providing a further contribution of around £1,500 towards the publication of more recent investigations. Supporting the exhibition is outside the remit of English Heritage's grant schemes.
	FAT is a partner in the "Greater Fens Museum Partnership", which is receives £96,200 from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA) "Renaissance in the Regions" regional museums development programme. The trust has received £1,500 for object conservation work from MLA.
	FAT also secured £600,000 from the Millennium Commission towards the cost of a new Heritage Centre, as part of the £5.408 million Peterborough Green Wheel project. FAT has received two grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). In March 2006 the trust was awarded £178,000 to support education and outreach activities, and in August 2006, £44,688 was awarded for a project planning grant. HLF is anticipating a larger application as a result of this work.

Arts Council of England: Public Appointments

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the process for  (a) appointing and  (b) removing (i) national and (ii) regional Arts Council England members is.

Margaret Hodge: The process for appointing national members and regional chairs of Arts Council England is set out in the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment's Code of Practice. It includes ministerial agreement to a role specification against which candidates are assessed, advertising in the national press or on the DCMS and Cabinet Office websites, interviews of shortlisted candidates by a selection panel followed by recommendations to Ministers on whom to appoint. An independent assessor is involved throughout, the final decision and appointment is then made by DCMS Ministers.
	Non-chair members of the regional councils are appointed by the National Council. The standard process involves advertisement and interviews followed by recommendations to National Council, which takes the final decision. However, for each regional council six of the members (eight on the South East regional council) are nominated by local authorities, regional government or regional development agencies, and then appointed by the National Council.
	The London regional council chair and four non-chair members are appointed by the Mayor of London (in the case of the chair, Secretary of State approval is also required).
	Appointments of national members and regional chairs of Arts Council England may be terminated by the Secretary of State in accordance with article 7 of the Arts Council England Royal Charter and as set out in the terms and conditions of appointment.
	National Council can remove non-chair members of any regional council (with the exception of the London regional council) for reasonable cause.
	The Mayor of London can remove the London regional council chair and non-chair members for reasonable cause (in the case of the chair, Secretary of State approval is also required).

Culture Online

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of Culture Online on reaching new audiences for the arts, with particular reference to hard-to-reach groups.

Margaret Hodge: The Department commissioned Demos to produce an overview of Culture Online's work. Its report Logging On: Culture, Participation and the Web, was published in May 2007 and provides an overview of lessons learned from the Culture Online programme and advice on how web technology can increase public participation in culture. I am arranging for copies of the report to be deposited in the House Libraries.

Culture Online

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets were set for measuring Culture Online's performance in  (a) engaging with hard-to-reach groups,  (b) enhancing access to the arts for children and young people and  (c) opening up cultural institutions to the wider community.

Margaret Hodge: Culture Online commissioned a range of innovative projects aimed at different audiences. Each project had targets built into Culture Online's delivery contract with partner organisations, which included user numbers, costs per user and where appropriate engagement with specific audience groups.

Culture Online

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was set aside for Culture Online; and how much was spent in each year since 2002.

Margaret Hodge: Funding of £10 million was allocated to Culture Online in 2002 mainly from the Capital Modernisation Fund. In 2005, an additional £3 million was allocated. Expenditure on Culture Online in each year since it was established is set out in the table. Culture Online closed at the end of March 2007.
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2002-03 265,379 
			 2003-04 1,439,034 
			 2004-05 3,893,000 
			 2005-06 2,657,000 
			 2006-07 4,205,000 
			 2007-08 spend to date 72,312

Culture: Coastal Areas

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage cultural regeneration in coastal resorts.

Margaret Hodge: My Department's £45 million fund (£15 million a year over three years) to regenerate seaside resorts through heritage and cultural projects was announced on 30 November 2007.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will make an announcement on the funding proposals for year one of the programme shortly.

Culture: Sponsorship

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2124W, on culture: sponsorship, how much business spending on the arts was in each year between 1997-98 and 2005-06.

Margaret Hodge: The figures for business sponsorship of the arts are measured in the annual Private Investment Benchmarking Survey conducted by Arts and Business. The survey methodology was changed in 2002-03, therefore the figures are not directly comparable.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 199-98 115.1 
			 1998-99 141.2 
			 1999-2000 150.4 
			 2000-01 114.4 
			 2001-02 111.0 
			   
			  New survey method introduced  
			 2002-03 164.2 
			 2003-04 152.1 
			 2004-05 155.0 
			 2005-06 154.2 
			 2006-07 171.5

Departmental Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what percentage of staff in his Department were making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions in each of the last two years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number and percentage of staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who have been making additional voluntary contributions to their pension in the last two years is as follows:
	
		
			   Staff  Percentage 
			 2006-07 6 1.14 
			 2007-08 6 1.25

Internet: Access

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regulations govern access by minors to adult content on the internet.

Margaret Hodge: While there are no specific regulations in this area, the Government have taken steps to protect children from harmful content. Examples include the establishment and work of the Internet Watch Foundation, the Home Office Task Force on child protection and the cyber bullying guidance published by DCSF in September 2007. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2038W, which gives more details about these measures.
	In addition the Prime Minister announced a review into the risk to children of exposure to harmful or inappropriate content in video games and online. The review will assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to help prevent children from being exposed to such material and help parents understand and manage the risks of access to inappropriate content.
	Dr. Tanya Byron is conducting this review and will report to Ministers in March 2008.

Religious Buildings: Finance

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which places of worship in Bexley have received funding from  (a) English Heritage and  (b) the Heritage Lottery Fund since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Christ Church, Broadway, Bexleyheath received a grant from the Joint Places of Worship grant scheme. This scheme was jointly funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund and ended in 2002.
	The Church of All Saints, Foots Cray, has received a grant under the successor grant programme, the Repair Grants for Places of Worship scheme. This scheme is also jointly funded by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Tourism: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department provided to each of the regional development agencies for the promotion of tourism in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) value of each such payment was; and what further such expenditure he plans in the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: Funding for regional development agencies (RDAs) is not ring-fenced for particular economic sectors, such as tourism. In each year since 2003-04, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has contributed £3.6 million to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (DBERR's) Single Programme budget (the "Single Pot") in respect of the tourism responsibilities of the eight regional development agencies (RDAs) outside London. The Single Pot, which will total approximately £2.2 billion, £2.2 billion and £2.1billion in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively, is allocated among the RDAs by DBERR. DCMS' contribution will be £3.5 million, £3.4 million and £3.3 million in these years.
	The Greater London Authority (GLA) is responsible for tourism in London. DCMS has provided £1.9 million each year since 2001-02 to the GLA to support the Mayor in the delivery of the GLA's statutory tourism duties. The GLA and the London Development Agency report total spending of around £22 million on tourism support in 2006-07.
	Since 2003-04, all of the RDAs have developed regional tourism strategies, budgets, and delivery mechanisms, and worked with regional partners and VisitBritain to promote and develop their region's tourism industry. The RDAs outside London reported total spending on tourism support of £29.8 million in 2006-07.

Tourism: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on tourism in  (a) the north-west and  (b) Cheshire; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Ministers and officials have had various discussions about tourism in the north-west in recent months, in particular with the North West Regional Development Agency, the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board and the Liverpool Culture Company. I visited Chester on 25 February and met a range of people from the public and private tourism sectors to discuss their plans for the future. I have also had many discussions with VisitBritain about its role in promoting tourism in the whole of Britain, including the north-west.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, is due to participate in the Local Government Association's Culture, Tourism and Sport Conference in Liverpool on 14 March. I plan to visit Cumbria on 17 March to meet with representatives of Cumbria Tourism.

Wind Power

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to which wind farm proposals his Department lodged objection in each of the last three years; and for what reasons in each case.

Margaret Hodge: No such objections have been lodged.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Admissions

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have attended accident and emergency departments in England in each of the last five years in order to receive treatment for minor  (a) ailments and  (b) injuries.

Ben Bradshaw: The table shows the number of attendances at minor injury and illness accident and emergency (A and E) services, including walk-in centres (WiCs) (type 3 including WiCs). It also shows total attendances for other types of A and E department (type 1 and 2).
	It should be noted that reason for attendance at A and E services is not currently centrally available, therefore it is not possible to ascertain if all patients attending type 3 services, including WiCs, are in fact doing so with minor ailments or minor injuries. Nor is it possible to ascertain how many of those attending other types of A and E are doing so with minor ailments or minor injuries.
	
		
			  Attendances at A and E departments, minor injury units and WiCs centres, England, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			   Type 1 and 2  Type 3 (including WiC) 
			 2002-03 12,510,682 1,880,840 
			 2003-04 13,272,055 3,244,790 
			 2004-05 13,885,052 3,952,128 
			 2005-06 14,202,418 4,556,746 
			 2006-07 14,226,176 4,696,099 
			  Note: WiCs were only included in the collection from Q1 2003-04.  Source: Department of Health QMAE dataset

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 325-6W, on alcoholic drinks: misuse, how many  (a) females and  (b) males were considered to be binge drinkers in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) general household survey provides an estimate of the percentage of men and women who drank more eight or six units respectively, on at least one day in the previous week, a measure of binge drinking.
	The following table gives figures for the percentage of men and women who were considered to be binge drinkers for the last five years where figures are available. It is important to note that in December 2007, the ONS described improvements in the ONS method for estimating alcohol consumption.
	The improved method takes account of increases in the alcoholic strength of wine, the sizes of glass used and uses better estimates of the alcoholic strength of beers, lagers and ciders. Figures for 2005 and 2006 were re-calculated using this improved methodology, figures for years previous to 2005 were not re-calculated.
	
		
			   Percentage of men who drank more than 8 units on any 1 day in the previous week  Percentage of women who drank more than 6 units on any 1 day in the previous week 
			  Old method   
			 2002 21 10 
			 2003 23 9 
			 2004 22 9 
			 2005 19 8 
			 2006 18 8 
			  Improved method   
			 2005 23 15 
			 2006 23 15

Care Homes

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of accommodation have been provided using funding from the extra care housing grant since it began; how many have been provided by  (a) councils,  (b) registered social landlords and  (c) the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the future use of the grant.

Ivan Lewis: The development of more than 4,200 units of accommodation is being funded by the Department's extra care housing grant. All 72 schemes receiving funding from this grant were delivered by a council. 68 of the schemes were delivered by councils in partnership with a registered social landlord. Records are not held centrally on private sector involvement in the schemes.
	A further £80 million will be made available between 2008 and 2010 to fund further extra care housing developments in England.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cervical cancer screenings there were in  (a) Tamworth and  (b) Staffordshire in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, data for the cervical screening programme: coverage of the target age group (25-64) for Staffordshire based primary care trusts (PCTs), at 31 March 2003 to 2007 has been set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  North Staffordshire PCT( 1) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Eligible population(2) 50,750 50,490 50,391 50,211 50,290 
			 Women screened (less than 3.5 yrs since last adequate test) 40,618 39,863 39,304 38,721 38,289 
			 Women screened (less than 5 yrs since last adequate test) 43,235 42,685 42,359 41,754 41,414 
			 Coverage (less than 3.5 yrs since last adequate test) (percentage) 80.0 79.0 78.0 77.1 76.1 
			 Coverage (less than 5 yrs since last adequate test) (percentage) 85.2 84.5 84.1 83.2 82.4 
		
	
	
		
			  South Staffordshire PCT( 1) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Eligible population(2) 146,059 146,389 146,946 147,939 148,521 
			 Women screened (less than 3.5 yrs since last adequate test) 115,112 114,587 114,159 114,549 113,813 
			 since last adequate test) 123,557 123,036 122,701 122,608 122,416 
			 Coverage (less than 3.5 yrs since last adequate test) (percentage) 78.8 78.3 77.7 77.4 76.6 
			 Coverage (less than 5 yrs since last adequate test) (percentage) 84.6 84.0 83.5 82.9 82.4 
			 (1 )Data prior to March 2007 have been mapped to the current PCT structure (2) This is the number of women in the resident population less those with recall ceased for clinical reasons.  Note: National policy for the cervical screening programme is that eligible women aged 25 to 64 should be screened every three or five years (women aged 25 to 49 are screened every three years, those aged 50 to 64 every five years).  Source: KC53 Parts A2 and A3, the Information Centre for health and social care.

Dementia: Health Services

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on development of a national dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has so far published two documents in support of the forthcoming national dementia strategy—'Strengthening the Involvement of People with Dementia: a resource for implementation' was published in November 2007 and 'Creative models of short breaks (respite care) for people with dementia' in February 2008.
	The Department is presently working with stakeholder groups in development of the national dementia strategy and a formal consultation on the draft will take place between June and August 2008.

Drugs: Babies

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies were born with an addiction to a class A drug in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: We do not hold this information centrally but the following table gives details of babies born with addictions to any substance. The figures are from the Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) and are based on the World Health Organisation's (WHO) ICD-10 codes for identification of conditions. (ICD is the WHO's system for identifying conditions. ICD-10 is the tenth (and current) version).
	
		
			   Finished consultant episodes for ICD-10 code P96.1 
			 2006-07 1,162 
			 2005-06 1,183 
			 2004-05 1,160 
			 2003-04 1,127 
			 2002-03 1,031 
		
	
	There are no specific codes in ICD-10 that identify babies born with class A drug addiction. ICD-10 code P96.1 (neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of addiction) indicates withdrawal symptoms due to maternal use of drugs of addiction. The fact the neonate is in withdrawal indicates that they were born addicted to a drug. However, it is not limited to class A drug addiction. The P96.1 code includes neonatal addiction as a result of maternal use of class A drugs but also includes maternal addiction to any drug for example cannabis or analgesics.

Drugs: Misuse

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the number of people with chronic health problems arising from illicit drug-taking; and what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of this.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not made any formal estimate of the number of people with chronic health problems arising from illicit drug-taking, nor has it made an estimate of the annual cost of this to the national health service.
	However, there is a strong evidence base which has established the serious harms that drug misuse causes including those harms that are health-related. This is why we have invested substantially in drug treatment, allocating another £398 million pooled drug treatment budget this year for the treatment of drug misuse.
	The Government launched their new national Drug Strategy on 27 February 2008, which, following on from the previous Drug Strategy, again identifies effective treatment as key to tackling these problems.

Macular Degeneration: Smoking

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the relationship between smoking and the long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration; if he will consider as part of the research the work that has been carried out by  (a) Jennifer S. Tan and others for the Institution Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney and the Department of Ophthalmology, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales and  (b) U. Chakravarthy and others; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics. Both organisations welcome applications for support for research into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to improve the regulation of the activities of the Nursing and Midwifery Council; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government published the White Paper "Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21(st) Century" in February 2007, which sets out a series of proposals to modernise the system of professional regulation. These proposals include a number of reforms to the governance of the regulatory bodies, such as the introduction of fully appointed, smaller, more board-like councils, where professional members no longer form a majority.
	The Health and Social Care Bill will introduce provision to require the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) in its annual report to state on how far, in exercising statutory functions, it and each health professions regulatory body has, in the Council's opinion, promoted the health, safety and well-being of patients and other members of the public. It also clarifies that the CHRE is not prevented from investigating particular cases for the purpose of making general reports on the performance of health care regulatory bodies of its functions or making general recommendations to those bodies affecting future cases.
	All regulators are currently required to produce annual reports which they send to the Privy Council, who then lay these reports before each House of Parliament. We have introduced further provision as to the content of these reports, which includes a description of the arrangements that the Council has put in place to ensure that it adheres to good practice in relation to equality and diversity. It will be a requirement that the regulator should lay a copy of its annual report and strategic plan before the United Kingdom Parliament, and where appropriate the Scottish Parliament.

Palliative Care: Cambridgeshire

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on supportive and palliative care has been implemented in North West Cambridgeshire.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including Cambridgeshire PCT, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care, based on assessments of local needs and priorities. The NHS has been asked to set out action plans to achieve compliance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations on supportive and palliative care. Implementation is being monitored by strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	Information on the rate of progress locally can be obtained through the East of England SHA.

Palliative Care: Cambridgeshire

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data are used by commissioners in North West Cambridgeshire to determine the need for specialist palliative and neurological care.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including Cambridgeshire PCT, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care and neurological care, based on an assessment of local needs and priorities. Strategic health authorities are responsible for monitoring PCTs to ensure they are effective and efficient.
	The NHS operating framework for 2007-08 asked PCTs, working with local authorities, to undertake a baseline review of their end of life care services. These will allow local commissioners to assess current services, identify gaps and obtain a much clearer view of local need, which will inform local commissioning.
	Regarding neurological care, the information strategy published alongside the "National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions" outlines commissioners' information requirements and a series of local and national actions designed to meet those needs. A copy of the framework is available in the Library.

Palliative Care: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data is used by commissioners to determine the need for specialist palliative and neurological care in Eastbourne.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care and neurological care, based on an assessment of local needs and priorities. Strategic health authorities are responsible for monitoring PCTs to ensure they are effective and efficient.
	The NHS operating framework for 2007-08 asked PCTs, working with local authorities, to undertake a baseline review of their end of life care services. These will allow local commissioners to assess current services, identify gaps and obtain a much clearer view of local need, which will inform local commissioning.
	Regarding neurological care, the information strategy published alongside the 'National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions' outlines commissioners' information requirements and a series of local and national actions designed to meet those needs. A copy of this document is available in the Library.

Pharmacy: Opening Hours

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many pharmacies are operating for under 100 hours per week under the Medicines (Pharmacy and General Sale—Exemption) Amendment Order 2005 in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many pharmacies operate in Peterborough constituency  (a) for under 100 hours a week under the provisions of section 12 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations and  (b) for over 100 hours a week under the provisions of section 13 of the Regulations; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not held centrally.
	The hon. Member may wish to raise this issue directly with the chief executive of Peterborough primary care trust.

Self-Mutilation

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many recorded self-harm incidents there were in England in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age group,  (b) sex and  (c) constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This data is not available in the requested format.
	Deliberate self harm (DSH) results in about 170,000 attendances at accident and emergency departments in the United Kingdom annually, with more than 140,000 of these being in England and Wales. DSH is one of the top five causes of acute medical admission, and is the most common reason for medical admission of females and the second most common reason for males. Approximately two thirds of DSH patients are under 35 years old.
	Hospital episode statistics record the number of finished consultant episodes of people who have been admitted in national health service hospitals with a primary diagnosis of injury and poisoning. Since a high proportion of these records do not record an external cause of injury or poisoning, such as deliberate self harm, it is not possible to ascertain the total number of self harm admissions accurately.

Torbay Hospital: Parking

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) revenue income and  (b) estimated overhead cost of the parking charges scheme at Torbay hospital was in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Hospital car parking charges are decided locally by individual trusts to help cover the cost of running and maintaining a car park. All trusts should have exemption and concessionary schemes in place to ensure that patients and carers who visit hospital regularly are not disadvantaged. They should also have sustainable public transport plans in place for staff and visitors.
	Data on the gross income that national health service trusts receive from car parking charges paid by staff and visitors have been collected since 2000. These data are provided by the NHS on a voluntary basis and have not been amended following their collection, nor have they been actively checked by the Department and therefore cannot be confirmed to be accurate or complete.
	Information in respect of Torbay hospital, part of South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Total gross income from car parking charges 
			 2000-01 (1)— 
			 2001-02 208,081 
			 2002-03 316,896 
			 2003-04 347,413 
			 2004-05 418,319 
			 2005-06 464,327 
			 2006-07 464,213 
			 (1) Trust did not submit data 
		
	
	The Department does not collect information about the overhead costs that trusts will incur in providing car parking facilities.

UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government is taking to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions.

Phil Woolas: UK greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 16.4 per cent. since 1990 (20.7 per cent. including EU ETS). We remain on course to nearly double our Kyoto Protocol target over the 2008-12 period.
	The 2006 UK Climate Change Programme and the 2007 Energy White Paper set out the policies and measures for reducing emissions and support the UK's transition to a low carbon economy. The Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in any country, introduces legally binding carbon budgets to ensure that progress will continue.

Ramsar Convention

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances it is necessary to conduct  (a) an appropriate assessment and  (b) an environmental assessment before development on wetlands designated as being of international importance under the Ramsar convention.

Joan Ruddock: An appropriate assessment needs to be undertaken in respect of any plan or project which would be likely to have a significant effect on a European site. As a matter of policy, Ramsar sites in England and Wales are accorded the same protection as European sites.
	In regard to environmental assessments, generally, it will fall to local planning authorities in the first instance to consider whether a proposed development requires an environmental impact assessment.

SSSIs

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to increase the number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in favourable condition by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: We are working closely with Natural England, and other stakeholders, to achieve our PSA target of bringing 95 per cent. of England's SSSI land-area into favourable or recovering condition by 2010. Currently, 80.8 per cent. of the SSSI land-area is meeting the target and we are confident that the 2010 target, while challenging, remains achievable.

Veterinary Clinical Research

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department is providing for veterinary clinical research in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA funding for animal health and welfare research in 2007-08 amounts to £39.4 million. The research programme, involves more than 250 projects and covers a wide range of topics that includes both laboratory and field research. The programme is not divided into clinical and non-clinical work and many of the projects include components of both.

Great Crested Newts

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the population of great crested newts in England and Leicestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: In 2006, it was estimated that there were approximately 66,000 great crested newt breeding ponds in England. As far as we are aware, there has been no specific estimate of the number of great crested newts in Leicestershire. Estimating the number of great crested newts is problematic because of a lack of detailed baseline survey data, and because existing data is fragmented between many recording centres.

Warm Front

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will review the effectiveness of the Warmfront scheme.

Phil Woolas: The effectiveness of the Warm Front Scheme and performance of eaga, the Warm Front Scheme Manager, is regularly and comprehensively audited by my Department and the independent quality assurors, White Young Green. These checks are intended to ensure the scheme is being delivered in the best interests of both the Government and Warm Front clients.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether charges for the collection of household waste will be levied on householders occupying flats with communal bins.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow up to five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	As with many of the powers that councils have in relation to local services, it will be up to individual authorities, working with their communities, to decide which households a pilot scheme should cover; including whether or not to cover flats, where householders occupy communal bins.
	However, the Government have stressed in our overarching framework that pilot authorities must take account of the needs of potentially disadvantaged groups in devising and running schemes. We will look to develop and publish guidance in this area to assist authorities in their assessment of these groups.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to conduct a consultation exercise before issuing guidance on charging for the collection of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow up to five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	The Government have committed to produce a range of guidance to assist authorities in implementing household incentive schemes. The final timetable for producing and making guidance publicly available for comment has not been finalised and to some extent will reflect the Bill's progress in Parliament. However, this process will certainly take place before the pilots begin.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of charges for household waste collection on families with children under the age of 12 months.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1393-94W.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  who is responsible for deciding which local authorities charge for domestic waste collection; and whether such decisions will be subject to  (a) parliamentary and  (b) ministerial approval;
	(2)  whether his Department will require those local authorities participating in the pilots for the new charges for the collection of household waste to produce business plans for the pilot.

Joan Ruddock: The Climate Change Bill includes powers for up to five local authorities to pilot incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling. Councils wishing to pilot schemes will be able to come forward with plans to fit local circumstances. These must be approved by the Secretary of State. Decisions about which local authorities will be able to run pilots will not be subject to parliamentary approval. However, all of the pilot schemes will have to meet the legislative framework agreed by Parliament.
	We will be working with stakeholders to develop a process for local authorities to come forward with proposals to pilot a waste incentive scheme. We have not yet finalised the details of the application procedure and we will want to discuss this further with stakeholders. However, we would certainly expect to see a good quality plan included in an application process.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision he has made for those who move out of a waste charging pilot area mid-year to be partially recompensed for annual charge payments.

Joan Ruddock: It will be up to local authorities, working with their communities, to decide how to administer charges and rebates under a waste incentive scheme. Payments could be on an annual basis or more frequently. Where residents move out of the area, having already paid a forward-looking charge, local authorities may wish to recompense them. We will be working with stakeholders to produce guidance for local authorities on this.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to counter the use of fake bin bags in areas where local authorities operate charges for the collection of domestic waste on the basis of payment by sack.

Joan Ruddock: Where authorities are operating a sack-based waste incentive scheme they may, for example, need to consider the risk of residents purchasing and placing their waste in sacks other than those specified under the scheme.
	Where this happens, local authorities may, if necessary, issue fines or fixed penalty notices to residents. However, effective communications with residents will be a more important way to avoid the use of counterfeit sacks. We will be working with local authorities to provide guidance on effective local communications.
	The Climate Change Bill includes the requirement that local authorities have a fly-tipping prevention strategy in place for preventing, minimising or otherwise dealing with the unauthorised deposit or disposal of waste.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether plans for pilots for charging for the collection of household waste include  (a) the use of radio-frequency identification microchips and  (b) charging according to frequency of collection;
	(2)  if he will conduct a privacy impact assessment on plans to introduce charges for the collection of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: We have no plans to favour one type of collection method over another. It is up to each local authority, working with their communities, to decide how their waste incentive scheme should operate. However, we have created powers in the Climate Change Bill to allow pilots to operate in a variety of ways, including but not limited to weight-based schemes using microchips or schemes based on frequency of collection. Authorities will also be able to operate schemes based on bin size or numbers of sacks used to contain waste.
	DEFRA has no plans to conduct a privacy impact assessment on the powers in the Climate Change Bill for up to five local authorities to pilot waste incentive schemes.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what exemptions are planned to operate in schemes to apply charges to the collection of household waste within pilot areas;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to take account of  (a) benefit recipients,  (b) low income groups and  (c) other vulnerable people in (i) setting a charging regime for the collection of household waste and (ii) the design of pilot schemes on household waste collection.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	The exact details of how a scheme operates would be up to the local authorities coming forward to run pilots to decide. However, the Climate Change Bill requires that authorities piloting waste incentives schemes would need to take account of groups which may potentially be disadvantaged unduly by the scheme. Authorities would also have the flexibility to decide which households in their area should be covered by the scheme. Where charges are part of a pilot scheme, only those producing the most non-recycled waste would pay more.
	We will be developing and consulting widely on guidance for local authorities on how they might take account of disadvantaged groups in designing and running a waste incentive scheme.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department have had with local authorities on the implementation of charges for the collection of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: As is it to be expected with any policy development, my officials and I have rightly had a range of meetings with a variety of stakeholders on the powers provided in the Climate Change Bill for up to five local authorities to pilot waste incentive schemes.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects of charges for the collection of household waste on the amount of waste placed in waste receptacles other than those associated with the property where the waste was generated.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill will allow up to five local authorities to pilot non revenue raising incentives schemes, which are designed to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	We do not consider that the introduction of pilot schemes should lead to increases in fly-tipping or waste crime. There is a range of powers available to local authorities to ensure waste is dealt with legitimately and we would expect them to continue to do so should they pilot a waste incentive scheme. The Government encourage authorities to make good use of the powers available to them, taking account of local circumstances and priorities.
	Also, as can be seen in the Climate Change Bill, local authorities will be required to have in place a fly-tipping prevention strategy. We will be working with stakeholders to develop guidance on what the strategy might include.
	If residents are concerned about neighbours placing waste in their bins, the local authority may wish to consider offering lockable bins. Evidence from Flanders, which operates a weight-based scheme, suggests that residents do not regard this type of behaviour as a problem; and take-up of lockable bins is very low. However, the pilots will give us the opportunity to monitor this kind of behaviour and assess what strategies are effective in preventing it.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long he expects the charging for collecting household waste pilots to last; and whether a  (a) minimum and  (b) maximum duration will be set for each pilot.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill will allow up to five local authorities to pilot non revenue raising incentives schemes, which are designed to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	There is no general minimum or maximum duration for the pilots—schemes will need to be in place for as long as needed in order to gather a solid evidence base to report back to Parliament. Ultimately it will be up to local authorities to come forward with proposals for pilot schemes and my Department does not want to pre-empt this by specifying now how long each should last. When the Secretary of State designates pilot areas, each designation order will specify a time at which that pilot will end.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) strategy and  (b) timetable is for the (i) start and conclusion, (ii) contiguity, (iii) number, (iv) duration and (v) cross-fertilisation of the pilot schemes for charging for the collection of household waste; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Climate Change Bill includes powers for up to five local authorities to pilot incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling. Councils wishing to pilot schemes will be able to come forward with plans to fit local circumstances which must be approved by the Secretary of State and follow clear guidelines which have been set out in the legislation.
	There is no timetable for the introduction of the five pilot household waste incentive schemes (including those which have a charging element) announced last year. However, as stated during the Communities and Local Government Select Committee's hearing on Waste on 17 December 2007, the earliest the pilots are likely to start (including those which have a charging element) is April 2009. The exact timing will be subject to the parliamentary process as well as the implementation timetable for each pilot.
	There is no general minimum or maximum duration for the pilots—schemes will need to be in place for as long as needed in order to gather a solid evidence base to report back to Parliament. Ultimately it will be up to local authorities to come forward with proposals for pilot schemes and my Department does not want to pre-empt this by specifying now how long each should last. When the Secretary of State designates pilot areas, each designation order will specify a time at which that pilot will end. Each of the five pilots could start at different times and run for different lengths of time, according to what is feasible and appropriate for the individual schemes and areas in question.
	The pilots will give us the opportunity to learn about the impacts of waste incentive schemes in an English context, and to gather and share best practice.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much he has allocated to budgetary provision for waste collection authorities to introduce new arrangements for the collection of household waste after the conclusion of the pilot schemes.

Joan Ruddock: The Climate Change Bill includes powers for up to five local authorities to pilot incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling.
	As I said in my written statement to Parliament on 15 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 72-73WS, we will be providing funding of up to £1.5 million per year for three years to support the pilots, including for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
	The Government have not allocated any funding at this stage for waste collection authorities to introduce waste incentive schemes, if and when the powers to do so, were rolled out to all local authorities in England.
	Research commissioned for DEFRA shows that authorities could make overall savings from introducing waste incentive schemes, as a result of having less waste to dispose of. In any case, it would be up to authorities themselves to decide whether or not they wanted to implement a scheme. Therefore, we would not anticipate their needing funding from Government.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how new arrangements for the collection of household waste will be applied to domestic properties where occupation is forbidden by law.

Joan Ruddock: The Climate Change Bill includes powers for up to five local authorities to pilot incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling.
	Ultimately, it is up to local authorities to decide which domestic premises would be covered by a waste incentive scheme. However, where domestic properties cannot be occupied, one would not expect household waste to be generated or collected and, therefore, it would be unlikely that waste incentives would apply.

Domestic Wastes: Meat

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste Resources Action Programme has issued on the inclusion of uncooked meat in organic household waste collections.

Joan Ruddock: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), with funding from my Department, has supported a number of local authorities to conduct trials of food waste collections. WRAP ROTATE (Recycling and Organics Technical Advisory Team) has provided advice on the design and roll out of the trials. Although no written guidance has been produced, WRAP's advice to local authorities taking part in the trials or seeking advice from ROTATE, is that if meat (cooked or uncooked) is collected as part of a separate food or organic waste collection service then that waste must be treated at a facility that is approved under the Animal By-Product Regulations.

Food Supply

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the security of the national food supply.

Hilary Benn: Food security is about ensuring consumers have access to a stable and adequate supply of food. This requires effective risk management and contingency planning, security of our energy supplies, access to food from a variety of sources and a strong food chain and infrastructure.

Livestock: Waste Disposal

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider whether the prohibition of on-farm burials for livestock should be removed; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have no plans to remove the prohibition on on-farm burials for livestock.

Recycling: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what local authorities have been funded by  (a) his Department and  (b) WRAP to pilot non-financial incentive schemes to promote recycling.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA carried out a pilot study in England in 2005-06 for local authority incentives for household waste management, backed by £3.1 million. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive range of reward only schemes in encouraging householders to reduce, recycle and compost their waste. More information is available on the DEFRA website.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has not funded any pilot non-financial incentive schemes to promote recycling.

Rights of Way: Public Transport

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the contribution of public transport links to the implementation of the right to roam.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have held no discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the contribution of public transport links to the implementation of the right to roam.
	Natural England are taking forward the recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts 32nd report including looking at the provision of more sustainable travel to the natural environment and areas of open countryside. Natural England's aim is to produce a national policy-based action plan by the end of 2008-09.

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: Prosecutions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions there have been under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in each year since 1981, broken down by  (a) offence and  (b) animals affected; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The table provides detail of the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2006.
	Data for all of the offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for years prior to 1996 are not held by my Department or the Ministry of Justice.
	The data which the Ministry of Justice has provided me cannot separately identify the animals affected unless specified within the Act.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Wildlife Act in England and Wales for the years 1996 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			Number proceeded against 
			  Statute  Offence Description  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 S.28P as added by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Sch.9 Carrying out or causing to permit to be carried out any operation likely to damage part of an area of special scientific interest subject to notification by Nature Conservancy Council — — — — — — — 2 3 2 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 S.19ZA(8) as added by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Sch.12 Falsely pretending, with intent to deceive, to be a wildlife inspector — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 S.14, S.14(1)(A), and S.21 Other indictable offences not specified elsewhere — — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 8 Protection of captive birds 2 8 2 1 6 3 2 — 1 2 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 9 Protection of certain wild animals 6 5 — 3 — 4 4 3 4 7 22 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 11 Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild animals 1 2 3 4 — 2 2 1 — — 2 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 S.28Q as added by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Sch.9 Change of owner or occupier in area of special scientific interest failing to comply with requirements — — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 S.19ZB(9)(a, b, c) as added by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Sch. 12 Intentionally obstructing a wildlife inspector acting in the exercise of the power conferred by ss(3). Failing without reasonable excuse to make available any specimen in accordance with a requirement under ss(2), (4) or (7) — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec1 Protection of wild birds 33 36 29 28 23 22 19 29 57 28 95 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 1 Protection of nests and eggs of wild birds 9 24 19 14 10 31 10 17 18 16 22 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 3 Protection of wild birds in sanctuaries — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 3 Protection of the nests and eggs of wild birds in sanctuaries — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 3 Illegal entry into bird sanctuaries — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 5 Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds 8 8 3 7 5 2 4 3 4 5 4 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 6 Sale etc. of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc. 4 2 3 2 4 1 — 1 1  2 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 17 False statements made for obtaining registration or licence etc. — 1 — 1 — — 2 — 1 2 — 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Sec 7 Registration etc. of certain captive birds 3 2 — 2 2 — 2 2 1 — — 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.  Source: Court Proceedings Database held by RDS-OCJR, Ministry of Justice

Child Support

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the percentage change in money outstanding in support payments in cases being dealt with by the Child Support Agency was between  (a) April 2006 and March 2007 and  (b) each month between April 2006 and March 2007.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 13 March 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the percentage change in money outstanding in support payments in cases being dealt with by the Child Support Agency was between (a) April 2006 and March 2007 and (b) each month between April 2006 and March 2007.
	Information on the amount of debt outstanding is published in Table 22 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This shows the outstanding debt balance for 2005/06 was £3.5 billion, which increased to £3.7 billion for 2006/07 an increase of 5.5 per cent. The Agency has been successful at reducing the rate of growth from around £23 million per month during 2004/05 to around £20 million per month during 2005/06 to around £16 million per month during 2006/07.
	The table below provides the monthly percentage change in debt.
	
		
			   Debt (£ billion)  Percentage increase 
			 April 2006 3.51 0.54 
			 May 2006 3.53 0.55 
			 June 2006 3.55 0.49 
			 July 2006 3.57 0.55 
			 August 2006 3.59 0.51 
			 September 2006 3.60 0.38 
			 October 2006 3.62 0.37 
			 November 2006 3.63 0.40 
			 December 2006 3.65 0.43 
			 January 2007 3.67 0.67 
			 February 2007 3.69 0.44 
			 March 2007 3.69 0.02 
		
	
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the time taken to pay child support to parents with care whose cases are being dealt with clerically and where maintenance has been paid to the Agency by the non-resident parent or via his employer as a result of a deduction from earnings order; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested:
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 13 March 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the time taken to pay child support to parents with care whose cases are being dealt with clerically and where maintenance has been paid to the Agency by the non-resident parent or via his employer as a result of a deduction from earnings order; and if he will make a statement.
	Child maintenance applications are processed clerically where, due to technical issues, they cannot be advanced on our computer system. Payments received in these cases are paid out normally one day later than non-clerical cases.
	However, as can be the case with a manual process, there are some occasions when individual payments require additional investigation to ensure that the right money is passed to the right client.
	The Agency takes steps to ensure that the allocation of receipts is strictly controlled, and that delays are kept to an absolute minimum.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Children: Maintenance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of all current Child Support Agency cases have  (a) been subject to maladministration,  (b) had incorrect maintenance calculations and  (c) arrears outstanding; and what proportion of cases are subject to (i)  (a) and  (b) above, (ii)  (a) and  (c) above, (iii)  (b) and  (c) above and (iv) all three conditions above.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 13 March 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what number and proportion of all current Child Support Agency cases have (a) been subject to maladministration (b) had incorrect maintenance calculations and (c) arrears outstanding; and what proportion of cases are subject to (i) (a) and (b) above (ii) (a) and (c) above (iii) (b) and (c) above and (iv) all three conditions above.
	The Agency does not record information on individual cases in such a way as to allow the analysis you have requested to be carried out. Information concerning maladministration, accuracy of maintenance calculations and outstanding arrears comes from several different information flows, therefore we cannot generate robust data concerning the proportion of cases affected by all three. The Agency can, however, provide the following information, which I hope is of use.
	In 2006/07, the Agency made consolatory payments due to maladministration in 15,420 cases.
	Between April 2007 and December 2007, a sample of 4,300 cases was checked for accuracy, of which 87% were found to have an assessment which was accurate to the nearest penny. Information on the accuracy of assessments is routinely published in Table 17 of the Quarterly Summary of Statistics.
	As at November 2007 there were 1,220,200 current Child Support cases with an assessment or calculation. 781,900 of these cases had debt outstanding. This equates to 64 per cent of the current caseload. Most cases accrue debt once an assessment or calculation has been carried out. The effective date of the assessment or calculation is often backdated and debt accrues from the effective date.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Helping People into Work Strategy

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much he expects his Department to pay to private and voluntary sector organisations to deliver services under the Helping People into Work strategy.

Stephen Timms: Our recently published "Three Year Business Plan 2008-11", which is available in the Library, provides figures for planned expenditure on employment programmes. These figures are in the following table.
	
		
			  Planned expenditure on Department for Work and Pensions employment programmes 
			   £ million 
			 2008-09 1,351 
			 2009-10 1,367 
			 2010-11 1,381 
		
	
	We anticipate that up to 70 per cent. of this expenditure will be contracted to voluntary and private sector organisations. However, as indicated within our recently published Commissioning Strategy, which is also available in the Library, the exact amounts are yet to be approved by Ministers.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants have been claiming for  (a) three months,  (b) six months,  (c) 12 months,  (d) 18 months,  (e) two years,  (f) three years,  (g) four years and  (h) five years, including any period for which a person may have been on the New Deal but returned to JSA immediately afterwards;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people on job seekers allowance who have spent five or more of the last 10 years on out-of-work benefits;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of people on job seekers allowance who have spent  (a) more than two of the last five years and  (b) more than two of the last three years on out-of-work benefits.

James Plaskitt: The additional information on spells on the new deal is not available except at disproportionate costs. Following is a table showing information on continuous spells of claimant unemployment.
	
		
			  Jobseeker's allowance claimants by continuous duration of claim, Great Britain and United Kingdom: November 2007 
			   Number of claimants: 
			  Duration of claim  GB  UK 
			 0 to less than 3 months 372,050 381,630 
			 3 to less than 6 months 152,785 157,015 
			 6 to less than 12 months 117,390 121,245 
			 12 months to less than 18 months 54,430 56,700 
			 18 months to less than 2 years 26,530 27,685 
			 2 years to less than 3 years 18,930 19,430 
			 3 years to less than 4 years 7,790 8,000 
			 4 years to less than 5 years 3,870 3,975 
			 5 years and over 6,785 7,115 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures are based on computer held cases only.  Source: NOMIS 
		
	
	Of those claimants whose continuous claim exceeds two years about half of the group are made up of those aged 50 plus. Up until April 2007 our customers aged 50 plus were not required to participate in the mandatory intensive activity period when on new deal 25 plus and so a stock of two year plus has built up. We now mandate all our customers to take part, and they will take up training allowances during any activity periods.
	A quarter of the group are those who have entered employment zones (EZs). Unlike the mandatory JSA new deals, customers participating in employment zones are not required to participate in full time activity and so need not break the JSA claim. EZ customers remain on JSA throughout the programme either until they leave benefit or they return to the standard JSA regime. It is therefore possible that some of the very hardest to help (despite significant intervention) remain unemployed beyond two years.
	A smaller group (about 8,000) are those that have been exempted from taking part in new deal and the mandatory option or intensive activity period (this stage would ordinarily take them from JSA on to a training allowance). Customers are exempted at the discretion of an adviser manager for reasons such as being a potentially violent customer, suffering from a serious drink or drug addiction, have a drink or drug addiction which is improving and progress to work provision is underway or those with mental health issues. The number of exclusions on new deal has increased over recent years. Following the work of a Jobcentre Plus led new deal task and finish group in 2007, the number and reason for exclusions is being more closely monitored.
	In regard to all claimants referred to we expect that a proportion of the cases are due to administrative error or a delay in a jobseeker entering provision promptly (for which sanctions can be applied). Jobcentre Plus is continually looking at ways of how we can reduce such error and has made significant in roads to reduce the number of 'overstayers' ie those delaying their progress on new deal, down from 17 per cent. in June 2006, to now less than 5 per cent.
	The GP response paper Ready for Work (December 2007) announced the Government's plans for significant changes in the way we help and support our customers back into work:
	A stepped programme of support will be available for all customers from day one.
	The successful new deal gateway will be refreshed and introduced for all customers from six months of a claim (bringing that support forward by 12 months for those 25 and over).
	All those reaching 12 months unemployment will enter the flexible new deal (FND), receiving intensive support from a specialist provider. During this time with a provider we expect all customers will enter work or participate in some form of full time activity increasing the chances of work.
	A high proportion moving into work will reduce the numbers who might otherwise have reached two years. Entering other full time activity will act to prevent the remainder from crossing the two year threshold.

National Insurance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were issued to  (a) UK,  (b) EU and  (c) non-EU citizens between (i) 1 April 2002 and 31 December 2003 and (ii) 1 January 2004 and the most recent date for which figures are available; and which 10 nationalities received the most national insurance numbers in each period.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available in the format requested.
	The available information is provided as follows:
	 National insurance number registrations to UK citizens
	The majority of UK nationals are registered with national insurance numbers (NINOs) as part of the juvenile registration process just prior to the age of 16. Some UK
	nationals apply for a NINO as adults and would go through the adult NINO allocation process. The data are not held in a format which allows us to extract a figure for UK nationals.
	The number of foreign nationals registered with NINOs does not indicate either the number of migrants coming to the UK or the number of foreign nationals in employment. The national insurance figures count all foreign nationals, including those who stay only briefly. ONS immigration statistics define a migrant as someone who stays in the UK for at least a year. Equally, ONS figures are not restricted to arrivals allocated a NINO, for example, non-working students, and family members not requiring a national insurance number.
	Figures for the juvenile registration process are as follows:
	
		
			  Period  Juvenile registration volumes (thousand) 
			 2003-04 753.6 
			 2004-05 743.2 
			 2005-06 722.9 
			 2006-07 772.1 
			  Notes: 1. Source data is Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs national insurance recording system (NIRS2) management information. 2. Reporting period for juvenile registration is 1 April to 31 March. 3. For the majority of juveniles the registration process takes place just prior to the 16th birthday. However, some juveniles may initially miss out on this process, but can be recorded as part of this process until the age of 19. 4. There may be a small number of young foreign nationals who obtain a national insurance number through the juvenile registration process. These will not appear in the foreign nationals totals for adult national insurance number registrations. However, the majority of juvenile registrations are for UK nationals. 
		
	
	 Adult national insurance number registrations to EU and non-EU citizens
	The numbers in the following table are sourced from figures already in the public domain. They are published via DWP's National Statistics First Release "National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK 2006/07".
	
		
			  Thousand 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 EU 98.6 113.6 200.5 374.3 424.9 
			 Non-EU 249.8 256.4 238.7 287.6 288.1 
			  Notes: 1. Source data is the 100 per cent DWP Extract from the National Insurance Recording System. 2. Annual periods relate to 6 April to 5 April. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Some additional disclosure control has been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding method used. 4. In order to produce a consistent time series, nationality is classified as EU or non-EU according to the country's status in 2006-07. 5. These figures do not include a small number of people (historically between 500 and 800 per year) who are recorded as foreign nationals but whose nationality is unknown. 
		
	
	The top 10 nationalities (excluding UK nationals) with the most adult national insurance number registrations for the latest four years available (2003-04 to 2006-07) are published in Table 3 on page 16 of the report "National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK (previously Migrant Workers Statistics) 2007: Full Report" on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/niall_report.pdf.

National Insurance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which 10 nationalities hold the greatest number of UK national insurance numbers ranked in order of numbers held; how many numbers are held in each case; and what percentage each figure is of the total number of national insurance registrations.

Stephen Timms: Information on the totality of national insurance numbers held is not available broken down by nationality.
	The top 10 nationalities (excluding UK nationals) with the most adult national insurance number registrations for the latest year available (2006-2007) are published in table three on page 16 of the report "National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK (previously Migrant Workers Statistics) 2007: Full Report" on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/niall_report.pdf.
	The total number of national insurance numbers registered in 2006-2007 was 1,539,000. This includes all adult registrations and those registered via the juvenile registration process just prior to age 16. There may be a small number of young foreign nationals who obtain a national insurance number through the juvenile registration process, and these will not appear in the foreign nationals total for adult national insurance number registrations. However, the majority of the juvenile registrations are for UK nationals.
	It is not possible to provide a direct comparison between the top 10 nationality figures and the total number of national insurance numbers registered because the former figures relate only to adults and some foreign nationals will obtain a NINO through the juvenile registration process, for which no nationality breakdown is available. Also, the data for adult foreign nationals and total NINO registrations are derived in different ways and captured over different periods.
	The number of foreign nationals registered with NINOs does not indicate either the number of migrants coming to the UK or the number of foreign nationals in employment. The national insurance figures count all foreign nationals, including those who stay only briefly. ONS immigration statistics define a migrant as someone who stays in the UK for at least a year. Equally, ONS figures are not restricted to arrivals allocated a NINO, for example, non-working students, and family members not requiring a national insurance number.

National Insurance

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the change was in the number of national insurance registrations issued to  (a) UK citizens and  (b) foreign citizens in each year since 2002; and what the percentage change was in each period in each category.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 12 November 2007
	The information is not available in the format requested.
	The available information is provided as follows:
	 National insurance number registrations to UK citizens
	The majority of UK nationals are registered with national insurance numbers (NINOs) as part of the juvenile registration process just prior to the age of 16. Some UK nationals apply for a NINO as adults and would go through the adult NINO allocation process. The data are not held in a format which allows us to extract a figure for UK nationals.
	The number of foreign nationals registered with NINOs does not indicate either the number of migrants coming to the UK or the number of foreign nationals in employment. The national insurance figures count all foreign nationals, including those who stay only briefly. ONS immigration statistics define a migrant as someone who stays in the UK for at least a year. Equally, ONS figures are not restricted to arrivals allocated a NINO, for example, non-working students, and family members not requiring a national insurance number.
	Figures for the juvenile registration process are in the following table:
	
		
			  Period  Juvenile registration volumes (thousand)  Percentage change 
			 2003-04 753.6 — 
			 2004-05 743.2 -1 .4 
			 2005-06 722.9 -2.7 
			 2006-07 772.1 +6.8 
			  Notes: 1. Source data is Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs national insurance recording system (NIRS2) management information. 2. Reporting period for juvenile registration is 1 April to 31 March. 3. For the majority of juveniles the registration process takes place just prior to the 16 birthday. However, some juveniles may initially miss out on this process, but can be recorded as part of this process until the age of 19. 4. There may be a small number of young foreign nationals who obtain a national insurance number through the juvenile registration process. These will not appear in the foreign nationals total for adult national insurance number registrations. However, the majority of juvenile registrations are for UK nationals. 
		
	
	 Adult national insurance number re gistrations to foreign citizens
	Figures for national insurance numbers registered to foreign nationals under the adult national insurance number process are in the following table. The numbers in the table are sourced from figures already in the public domain. They are published via DWP's National Statistics First Release 'National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK 2006/07'.
	
		
			  Period  Foreign nationals registration volumes (thousand)  Percentage change 
			 2002-03 349.2 — 
			 2003-04 370.7 +6.2 
			 2004-05 439.7 +18.6 
			 2005-06 662.4 +50.6 
			 2006-07 713.5 +7.7 
			  Notes: 1. Source data is the 100 per cent DWP extract from the National Insurance Recording system. 2. Annual periods relate to 6 April to 5 April. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Some additional disclosure control has been applied. Totals may not sum due to rounding method used.

National Insurance: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were held by non-UK citizens in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2002 and  (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what each figure was as a percentage of total national insurance registrations.

Stephen Timms: Information on the totality of national insurance numbers held is not available broken down by nationality.
	The number of new national insurance number registrations for adult foreign nationals by year of registration for 2002-03 and 2006-07 is published in Table 2 on page 16 of the report "National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK (previously Migrant Workers Statistics) 2007: Full Report" on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/niall/niall_report.pdf.
	No figures are available for 1997
	The total number of national insurance numbers registered in 2006-07 was 1,539,000. This includes all adult registrations and those registered via the juvenile registration process just prior to age 16.
	It is not possible to provide a direct comparison between the number of national insurance numbers registered to foreign nationals and the total number of national insurance numbers registered because some foreign nationals will obtain a NINO through the juvenile registration process and no numbers are available for this. Also, the data for adult foreign nationals and total NINO registrations are derived in different ways and captured over different periods.
	The number of foreign nationals registered with NINOs does not indicate either the number of migrants coming to the UK or the number of foreign nationals in employment. The national insurance figures count all foreign nationals, including those who stay only briefly. ONS immigration statistics define a migrant as someone who stays in the UK for at least a year. Equally, ONS figures are not restricted to arrivals allocated a NINO, for example, non-working students, and family members not requiring a national insurance number.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the findings of the voice risk analysis pilot scheme run by Harrow Council in relation to claims for  (a) housing and  (b) council tax benefit.

James Plaskitt: Seven local authority sites are currently testing voice risk analysis technology through pilots that are due to finish at the end of March 2008. The results from the local authorities—including Harrow—will be collated and analysed with a view to making the findings available in the summer.

Unemployment

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps a jobseeker is required to take to provide proof that he or she is actively seeking work whilst on holiday;
	(2)  what the maximum time is that someone on jobseekers allowance may spend on holiday each year;
	(3)  what requirements there are for a person on jobseeker's allowance on holiday to register with their local jobcentre whilst on holiday if it is different from their local jobcentre whilst at their normal residential address.

Stephen Timms: Jobseekers are allowed to go on holiday in Great Britain for two weeks in a 12 month period without having to actively seek work. As they do not need look for work during this period no proof of jobsearch is required. There is also no requirement for the jobseeker to register with the Jobcentre local to their holiday residence while away.
	The jobseeker must remain within Great Britain, must be available for work during their absence and must provide information to Jobcentre Plus before leaving home concerning the duration of the absence and details of how they may be contacted while away. They must also be willing and able to return home immediately to take up a job if one is offered.
	A jobseeker may take longer and more frequent holidays in a 12 month period if they wish. However, if a jobseeker takes more than two weeks holiday in a 12 month period, they will have to continue to demonstrate that they are available for and actively seeking work and to attend the Jobcentre local to their holiday residence at least fortnightly.

Bridging Newcastle Gateshead: Finance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government have contributed through Bridging Newcastle Gateshead to costs for  (a) the strategic housing staff capacity of the City of Newcastle and  (b) (i) the EDAW consultancy and (ii) other consultancy costs incurred in (A) the preparation of the North Central Plan and (B) in relation to the Benwell Scotswood Plan.

Iain Wright: The Bridging Newcastle Gateshead (BNG) contribution to work on strategic housing capacity in Newcastle city council, by providing financial contributions for the preparation of area action plans, is projected to be £396,566 in the year up to 31 March 2008.
	BNG have contributed £200,000 towards the cost of the North Central Plan that has been led by consultants. This amount is the overall budget and includes costs other than consultancies fees such as the hiring of venues to undertake public consultation.
	In relation to the Benwell Scotswood Plan, BNG have contributed £227,000 towards the cost of this project that has been led by EDAW. This amount is the overall budget and includes costs other than consultancies fees such as the hiring of venues to undertake public consultation.

Casinos: Manchester

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will allocate funding to Manchester City Council for costs incurred in relation to preparation for the regional casino.

John Healey: The decision to apply to the Casino Advisory Panel was a matter for the local authorities concerned.

Council Housing: Overcrowding

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment her Department and its agencies have made of the level of over crowding in social housing; and what statistical measures are used to quantify that level.

Iain Wright: Levels of overcrowding are measured through the Survey of English Housing and assessed against the "bedroom standard", based on the ages and composition of a household. The 'Survey of English Housing Preliminary Results: 2006-07' were published on 18 December 2007
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/sehprelimresults0607
	Table 9 indicates that the rate of overcrowding in the social rented sector is 5.8 per cent. across England.
	In December, the Department published 'Tackling overcrowding in England: an action plan' to assist local authorities in developing their own strategies to tackle overcrowding.

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 117W, on ipsos MORI, if she will place in the Library a copy of the research on post implementation of home information packs;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 January 2008,  Official Report, column 781, to the hon. Member for Welwyn, Hatfield, on home information packs, whether Ipsos MORI has provided an interim report or initial conclusions to her Department.

Caroline Flint: The Home Information Pack Area Trials—Research Report was published on 6 March 2008. Copies are available in Library of the House.

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 230W, on Home Information Packs, whether the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) used to identify a property in a home condition report is the same UPRN used to identify a property by  (a) the Valuation Office Agency and  (b) the National and Land Property Gazetteer.

Caroline Flint: The Valuation Office Agency and National Land and Property Gazetteer have their own unique reference property numbers, which are not the same as those generated by the home information pack register.

Home Information Packs

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many estate agents have been fined for non-compliance with the home information pack regulations since the packs became mandatory; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Local authority weights and measures authorities and the Office of Fair Trading are responsible for enforcing the home information pack duties through s.166 and s.175 of the Housing Act 2004. The Office of Fair Trading has not received notice of any penalty charges having been served.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of new homes built since 2003 meet the Government's targets for sustainability on  (a) energy use and  (b) water use.

Iain Wright: Building Control is a devolved service undertaken by local authorities and other building control bodies. Independent data on the levels of compliance achieved by individual homes that have been signed off by building control bodies is not kept centrally and it is not therefore possible to verify the absolute levels of compliance.
	In relation to regulatory requirements on energy use, an implementation review of the 2006 amendments to part L of the building regulations will be undertaken shortly and will help to inform future amendments to the building regulations in this respect.
	There are currently no requirements in building regulations for water efficiency, but the Government have committed to bringing new requirements into force for new homes during 2009. In December 2006, CLG and DEFRA issued a consultation on introducing minimum requirements for water efficiency in new buildings. The consultation gave a strong endorsement for the adoption of a performance standard for new homes to be administered through the building regulations. The standard will be set at 125 litres per person per day.
	The Code for Sustainable Homes sets out standards, above the regulatory minimum, for the sustainability of new homes including energy and water. The code provides a means for house builders to differentiate their products, however, there is no national obligation for privately funded developments to be built to the code. Publicly funded homes must be built to code level 3. There are currently 395 registered developments that are building to the code, covering around 30,000 homes.

Local Strategic Partnerships: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if she will meet Chorley Borough Council and the hon. Member for Chorley to discuss the local strategic partnership;
	(2)  if she will take steps to ensure that  (a) Chorley Borough Council and  (b) the Chorley Local Strategic Partnership consults the hon. Member for Chorley on future activities of the local strategic partnership.

John Healey: I have asked my officials to meet with my hon. Friend to discuss Chorley's Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and its contribution to the successful targeting and co-ordination of services.
	The Government's consultation on the future of LSPs (2005-06) emphasised the key role hon. Members could play in LSPs. It stated that:
	'MPs have substantial democratic legitimacy in the local area and the ability to bring a wide range of partners to the table to produce genuinely collaborative working. There is no set way to do this and current practice varies between the MP chairing the LSP to receiving papers and attending an annual event. Each area will need to consider the most appropriate mechanism for them'.

London Development Agency

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Audit Commission's scrutiny of  (a) the London Development Agency and  (b) the Greater London Authority.

John Healey: It is the responsibility of the District Auditor to consider whether financial and accounting matters relating to the GLA and LDA need investigation and action.

Regional Planning and Development: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will attend future meetings of the Thames Gateway Parliamentary Group; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 6 March 2008
	 In my new role as Minister with responsibility for Thames Gateway I am looking forward to engaging with hon. Members who have constituencies within the Thames Gateway boundary. This will include attendance at future meetings of the Thames Gateway parliamentary group.

Thames Gateway Development Corporation Planning Committee: Public Appointments

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what process is followed for the appointment of members of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation Planning Committee; and what criteria are used to appoint members.

Caroline Flint: The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation Planning Committee currently consists of nine members. Seven of those members are members of the Corporation's Board, appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. They were appointed to the Planning Committee by the chairman of the Corporation.
	Two members of the Planning Committee are co-opted and are not members of the Corporation's Board. They were appointed by the chairman of the Board with the consent of the Secretary of State, following an appointment process involving advertising the position, short listing and interviews.
	The criteria used for the interviews were:
	Motivation/understanding the challenges/opportunities of the role;
	Committee contribution/adding value;
	Technical/professional contribution.

Civil Service Appeal Board

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of appeals by employees of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies were (i) heard and (ii) upheld by the Civil Service Appeal Board in each of the last 10 years; how much was awarded in compensation by the Board to each successful appellant in each year; what the reason was for each compensation award; how many appellants were reinstated by the Board in each year; and what the reason was for each (A) dismissal and (B) reinstatement.

Tom Watson: Statistics on numbers of appeals heard in individual Departments and agencies for each of the last 10 years can be found in Appendix 2 of each of the Civil Service Appeal Board's annual reports. These are available on the Board's website at:
	http://www.civilserviceappealboard.gov.uk
	Copies are also available in the Library of the House.
	The Cabinet Office does not centrally record information on appeal cases, and so the information requested on the outcome of the appeal, compensation awards or cases of reinstatement could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what guidance has been issued on the use of official residences by former Ministers of the Crown; and what liability such individuals have for meeting associated costs;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has issued on the council tax liabilities of Ministers in official residences in the last 12 months.

Tom Watson: holding answer 10 March 2008
	The Ministerial Code provides guidance on the use of official residences. Arrangements are in place to ensure that Ministers who are allocated official residences are provided with guidance on their council tax liability. In addition, Ministers who are allocated official residences pay tax on ancillary services associated with the residences, which are provided for use in the private part of the accommodation and which constitute a taxable benefit in kind.

Children's Commissioner for England: Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the budget is for the office of the Children's Commissioner for England in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09 and  (c) 2009-10.

Beverley Hughes: The current budget is a matter for 11 Million (formerly the Office of the Children's Commissioner). Rob Williams, the Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with information about the current financial year and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library. The budget for the next two financial years has yet to be finalised.
	 Letter from Rob Williams, dated 13 March 2008:
	I have been asked by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to write to you in response to parliamentary question numbers 186751 and number 186748,
	I have enclosed a copy of our annual report for the years 2006-07 which contains financial details from our inception until March 2007, which contains financial details from our inception until March 2007.
	For 2007-08 and 2008-09 the figures are:
	
		
			  Analysis of budget breakdown 11 MILLION 2007 to 2009 
			   
			   2007-08 budget  2008-09 draft budget 
			 Projects 2,432,345 2,183,402 
			 Office and administration costs 238,696 252,396 
			 Premises including rent 270,283 271,438 
			 Depreciation and cost of capital 377,052 360,848 
			 Total budget 3,318,378 3,068,084 
		
	
	I hope this answers your question. If you think it would be helpful I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss the work we have been doing and to talk through with you our work plan for the coming financial year.

Children's Commissioner for England: Finance

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will give a breakdown of the expenditure by the office of the Children's Commissioner in England by main budget heading since inception of the office.

Beverley Hughes: These are matters for 11 Million (formerly the Office of the Children's Commissioner). Rob Williams, the Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with information about the current financial year and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Rob Williams, dated 13 March 2008:
	I have been asked by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to write to you in response to parliamentary question numbers 188751 and number 186748,
	I have enclosed a copy of our annual report for the years 2006-2007 which contains financial details from our inception until March 2007,
	For and the figures are:
	
		
			  Analysis of budget breakdown 11 MILLION 2007 to 2009 
			   
			   2007-08 budget  2008-09 draft budget 
			 Projects 2,432,345 2,183,402 
			 Office and administration costs 238,696 252,396 
			 Premises including rent 270,283 271,438 
			 Depreciation and cost of capital 377,052 360,848 
			 Total budget 3,318,378 3,068,084 
		
	
	I hope this answers your question. If you think it would be helpful, I would be more than happy to meet with you to discuss the work we have been doing and to talk through with you our work plan for the coming financial year.

Disadvantaged: Crime

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what analysis his Department has made of the Institute of Education research indicating a correlation between educational inequality and crime; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: This research was conducted by the DCSF-funded Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning (WBL), based at the Institute of Education. It is part of a body of research we have supported over the last eight years focusing on the impact of education, and its distribution, on societal well-being and social cohesion.
	Addressing the distribution of social outcomes created by lack of opportunity has been, and remains, a key objective for Government. The Children's Plan, recently published by the Department, restates the need to close the gap in educational achievement for children from disadvantaged families, alongside achieving world class standards. As an outcome of last year's comprehensive spending review, Government have announced a Public Sector Agreement to
	Narrow the gap in educational achievement between children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers
	(PSA 11). This PSA has stretching performance indicators associated with closing the gaps at each age stage of learning. By closing the gap in educational attainment we expect not only to deliver more fairness in opportunity to individuals, but to benefit the quality of society too, measured by indicators such as the incidence of crime.

Pupils: Hearing Impaired

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many hearing impaired pupils are taught in  (a) mainstream and  (b) special maintained schools.

Kevin Brennan: Information from the School Census shows that, in January 2007 in England, there were 6,570 hearing impaired pupils in maintained primary schools, 5,670 such pupils in maintained secondary schools and 1,610 such pupils in all special schools. These figures refer to those who have hearing impairment as primary need and cover those at School Action Plus and with SEN statements. They exclude general hospital schools and dually registered pupils.

Sexual Harassment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many complaints of  (a) sexual harassment and  (b) sexual discrimination have been made by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: No complaints of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination were made by staff in my Department during 2007.
	The Department does not have any Executive agencies.

Sure Start Programme: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children received services from Sure Start in West Lancashire constituency in each year since the programme's inception.

Beverley Hughes: There are five Sure Start Children's Centres up and running in West Lancashire offering services to 2,818 children under five and their families. We do not collect data centrally on the number of children accessing Sure Start services each year.

Vocational Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the comparative returns to the economy of  (a) uncertified employer purchased training and  (b) low level vocational qualification bearing education and training; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	There is insufficient data on uncertified employer purchased training, and its link to wages, employment and productivity, to allow such a comparison to be carried out. From our research on NVQ level 2 qualifications however, we do know that vocational qualifications can provide higher returns when they are delivered through the workplace, particularly for men(1).
	The Department will continue to monitor the returns to education and training, both through commissioned research and through internal analysis of data. It is vital that we gain as full an understanding as possible of the returns to training and qualifications. This will enable us to make sure that the qualifications we deliver in future provide economically valuable skills for individuals, employers and the economy as a whole, and help us to achieve the ambitions for a high-skilled work force set out in the Leitch report on skills.
	(1) See Dearden et al (2000): The returns to Academic, Vocational and Basic Skills in Britain. Skills Task Force Research Paper 20, and Jenkins et al (2007): The Returns to Qualifications in England, Updating the Evidence Base on Level 2 and Level 3 Vocational Qualifications. CEE Discussion Paper No. 89.

Youth Services: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department provided to Enfield Council for youth services in each of the last 10 years; and what the real terms change was from each year to the next.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not set a budget for spending on youth services. Local authorities decide what should be spent, taking into account Government policy and local needs. The following table shows how much Enfield has decided to allocate in the last nine years, in both cash and real terms. Data is not available from before 1999-2000.
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure by Enfield on youth service s 
			   
			   Cash terms  Real terms 
			 1999-2000 999,000 1,188,394 
			 2000-01 986,108 1,156,589 
			 2001-02 1,052,333 1,205,408 
			 2002-03 1,121,647 1,245,818 
			 2003-04 1,355,382 1,463,032 
			 2004-05 1,440,161 1,512,774 
			 2005-06 1,518,136 1,561,692 
			 2006-07 1,648,564 1,648,564 
			 2007-08 2,023,600 1,959,903 
			  Notes: 1. Cash terms figures are converted to real terms (2006-07 prices) using the December 2007 gross domestic product (GDP) deflators. 2. 2007-08 data remains provisional and subject to change by the local authority.

Youth Services: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department provided to Tamworth Borough Council for youth services in each of the last 10 years; and what the real terms change was each year.

Kevin Brennan: Children's Services funding is distributed to local (education) authorities and as such we are unable to provide any figures specifically for Tamworth borough council. The figures provided in this answer are for the whole of Staffordshire local authority (of which Tamworth is a subsection).
	The Department do not provide any funding to local authorities which is specifically ring fenced to be spent on Youth Services. It is left up to the individual local authorities to decide locally how much of their overall funding they want to allocate for youth services based on their own individual local needs and circumstances, and as such, included in the following table is how much Staffordshire local authority has spent on its youth services in the last eight years (1999-2000 to 2006-07). We do not have comparable figures prior to the introduction of section 52 for the 1999-2000 financial year.
	
		
			  Net current expenditure by Staffordshire local authority on youth services for 1999-2000 to 2006-07 
			   Cash terms  Real terms (2006-07 prices) 
			 Percentage change from previous yearPercentage change from previous year 
			 1999-2000 5,198,224 n/a 6,183,724 n/a 
			 2000-01 5,426,754 4.4 6,364,947 2.9 
			 2001-02 5,619,168 3.5 6,436,545 1.1 
			  
			 2002-03 5,330,832 (5.1) 5,920,975 (8.0) 
			 2003-04 5,731,777 7.5 6,187,018 4.5 
			 2004-05 6,147,428 7.3 6,457,382 4.4 
			 2005-06 6,587,558 7.2 6,776,556 4.9 
			 2006-07 7,802,989 18.5 7,802,989 15.1 
			 n/a = Figures not available.  Notes: 1. Financial data are drawn from local authorities Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the DCSF (formally DFES). 2002-03 saw a break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) to schools and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by the blank row. Comparable figures are not available prior to the introduction of section 52 for the 1999-2000 financial year. 2. 2006-07 data are subject to change by the local authority. 3. Cash terms figures are converted to real terms (2006-07 prices) using the December 2007 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) deflators. 4. Figures as reported by Staffordshire local authority as at 10 March 2008.

Adult Education: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 516W, on adult education: finance, what the funding for adult education provision was in each of the last five years, broken down by programme.

Bill Rammell: The departmental annual report 2007 for the former Department for Education and Skills sets out adult funding provided through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) from 2001-02 to 2005-06 based on the LSC published accounts. The following table provides an extract from the DAR showing adult participation funding for further education, Train to Gain, 19+ work-based learning and personal and community development learning programmes. Other funding for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, University for Industry/learn direct, capital and learner support is not broken down by age so is not included in the table.
	
		
			  Extract from table 8.9 Breakdown of  e xpenditure by the Learning and Skills Council  within  departmental expenditure limit 2001-02 to 2005-06 
			  Outturn ( million) 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 19+ Further Education 1,692 1,695 1,882 1,902 2,011 
			 Train to Gain/Employer Training Pilot n/a 7 33 89 142 
			 19+ Workbased Learning 154 211 213 243 232 
			 Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL) 153 194 225 237 229 
			 Adults Total 1,999 2,107 2,353 2,471 2,614 
			  Source: DfES departmental annual report 2007 
		
	
	Further information on the breakdown of adult funding for the period 2005-06 to 2010-11 is provided in table 5 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report 'Sustainable employment: supporting people to stay in work and advance' published on 27 February 2008. The presentation of this information is consistent with the 2008-09 LSC Grant Letter published on 16 November which reflects the introduction of the adult learner and employer responsive funding models from 2008-09. A copy of the PAC report is available in the House Library.

Construction: Vocational Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people joining the construction industry via the National Skills Academy for Construction he estimates will be  (a) British citizens,  (b) citizens of countries in the European Union and  (c) citizens of countries from outside the European Union.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council's Statement of Priorities 2008-11 published on 16 November 2007 sets out the Government's funding strategy over this period. The Government recognise that more has to be done to raise the employability of unskilled British workers and our funding strategy supports that. The training places announced on the 16 November are aimed at the people in the British work force who do not currently have the skills to be competitive in the future. It is reasonable to expect that UK citizens will take up the vast majority of these training places.
	Although there are no nationality estimates for the learners that will benefit from the National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfc), ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council that is leading on the development of the NSAfc, is undertaking survey work to look at the mobility of labour more generally in the construction sector and will be publishing a report later in the year.

Further Education: Foundation Degrees

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many further education colleges have applied for foundation degree awarding powers since July 2007; and how many of such applications were  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful.

Bill Rammell: None. The new powers that will enable further education colleges to apply for powers to award their own foundation degrees come into force on 1 May.
	The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is, through consultation, developing detailed guidance for applicants. It is also running a series of 'road shows' to provide information to potential applicants in an informal setting.

Students: Loans

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many recipients of  (a) student loans and  (b) education maintenance allowance there are in Bassetlaw constituency, broken down by ward.

Bill Rammell: The information requested on student loans is not available at constituency or ward level. 10,580 students from Nottinghamshire local authority received a maintenance loan in academic year 2006-07, and 10,080 received a tuition fee loan.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold the information about take-up and payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the Ministerial letter of 31 January 2006 responding to the recommendations within the Animal Procedures Committee's (APC) 2005 report on the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, what response her Department plans to make to the APC's recommendation 16.

Meg Hillier: We will shortly be reviewing our response to all of the recommendations in this Animal Procedures Committee report, including recommendation 16, and will aim to publish our further conclusions when we publish the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals 2007.

Animal Welfare

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of her Department's advisory non-departmental public bodies have specialists in animal welfare on their boards.

Meg Hillier: The Animal Procedures Committee (APC) is the only Home Office advisory non-departmental public body that includes specialist animal welfare representatives.

Biometrics

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the statement on page 19 of the Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme, 20 December 2006, that the introduction of iris biometrics remained an option, whether iris biometrics will be recorded and stored on the National Identity Register.

Meg Hillier: Iris biometrics will not be recorded on the National Identity Register when the scheme starts. However, it remains an option that we will continue to review as the scheme progresses.

Crime: Lincolnshire

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of  (a) violent crime,  (b) burglary and  (c) car crime took place in North East Lincolnshire in each year since 2000.

Vernon Coaker: The available information relates to offences recorded in the North East Lincolnshire Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area and is given in the following table.
	A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in the two reviews of crime statistics. Once such change is that the term violent crime is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics and we now provide figures for violence against the person. In addition, a new offence group of Offences against vehicles has also been created. This group includes offences of theft of and from a vehicle and interfering with a motor vehicle.
	
		
			  Specific offences recorded by the police in North East Lincolnshire 
			   Violence against the person  Burglary  Offences against vehicles( 1) 
			 2000-01 1,891 5,290 5,244 
			 2001-02 2,083 5,803 5,409 
			 2002-03(2) 3,284 5,127 5,764 
			 2003-04 6,046 4,832 6,201 
			 2004-05 5,751 4,554 5,432 
			 2005-06 5,165 3,536 4,340 
			 2006-07 5,717 3,311 4,091 
			 (1) Includes offences of theft of and from a vehicle and interfering with a motor vehicle. (2) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in 2002-03 and figures before and after that date are not directly comparable.

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on the PentiP computer system.

Tony McNulty: The Pentip project will deliver a standard, United Kingdom-wide business process and information technology system to support the processing of Penalty Notices by the Police Service and Her Majesty's Courts Service.
	The total cost of designing, building and implementing Pentip is forecast at 13 million. Expenditure up to the end of the current financial year is 5.3 million.

Extradition

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has received an extradition request from the Principality of Liechtenstein for persons suspected of procuring documents belonging to the Bank of Liechtenstein; and whether such a request would fall under the provisions of the European Convention on Extradition.

Meg Hillier: As a matter of longstanding policy and practice the United Kingdom will neither confirm nor deny that it has received, is to make or has made an extradition request, until the subject of the request has been arrested in relation to the request.
	Liechtenstein is a party to the European convention on extradition; the principality is designated for the purposes of part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003 and any extradition request to the United Kingdom would be considered under that part of the Act.

Genetics: Database

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available on the purpose, scope and expected usage of the National Identity Register; and if she will publish this information alongside the information available on the www.ips.gov.uk website.

Meg Hillier: The National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan 2008, published on 6 March 2008, includes the Government's updated plans for the introduction and development of the National Identity Register.
	A copy of the delivery plan can be found at:
	http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/downloads/national-identity-scheme-delivery-2008.pdf

Apprentices

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many adult apprenticeships have been completed since the programme was introduced;
	(2)  how many apprenticeships have been completed by women since 1997;
	(3)  how many black and ethnic minority people have completed apprenticeships since 1997;
	(4)  how many disabled people have completed apprenticeships since 1997.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 3 March 2008
	I have been asked to reply.
	The total number of apprenticeship frameworks achieved in England since 2001-02the year that information was first collected on the Learning and Skills Council's Individualised Learner Recordis 410,000. Data on the breakdowns by age, gender, ethnicity and disability for the last three years is shown in the following table, but information for the other years is not readily available.
	
		
			   Apprenticeship frameworks achieved 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			 Total 277,500 
			 Adult learners (aged 19+) 112,800 
			 Male 148,900 
			 Female 128,700 
			 Black or minority ethnic 11,600 
			 White 262,600 
			 Learner has a learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem 24,900 
			 Learner does not have a learning difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem 249,200 
			  Source:  Learning and Skills Council

Coal Fired Power Stations: Carbon Emissions

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has been made of the possible effect of new coal power plants on the Government's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The EU Emissions Trading Scheme ensures that total carbon emissions across EU industry and power generation sectors are restricted by a cap. Any new coal plant in the UK would have to buy allowances to emit, ensuring that equivalent carbon savings are made elsewhere, which count under the Government's approach to carbon budgeting.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Carbon Sequestration

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the  (a) incentives and  (b) legal framework necessary for companies to retrofit carbon capture and storage technology to coal-fired power stations; and if he will publish any such assessment.

Malcolm Wicks: Ongoing policy development work by my Department is aimed at promoting the widespread deployment of CCS on new build and existing power stations and we are assessing a variety of options to achieve this, including possible incentives.
	Companies wishing to retrofit the full chain of carbon capture and storage technology would have to obtain the usual planning and regulatory consents. The Energy Bill 2008 contains provisions that will enable the storage of carbon dioxide offshore.

Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consultation he plans to hold on the development of a mitigation strategy for the environmental and biodiversity impacts in relation to Medway Estuary and Marshes  (a) special protection area,  (b) Ramsar site and  (c) site of special scientific interest of the proposed power station at Kingsnorth in Kent; and whom he plans to consult.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is consulting Natural England, the Environment Agency, Medway council and E.ON on the terms of conditions to mitigate or remove any adverse impacts to protected areas and species, should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent.

Departmental Official Cars

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what make and model of car  (a) he and  (b) each Minister in his Department selected as their official ministerial car; and what criteria were applied when making the decision in each case.

Gareth Thomas: The Prime Minister sets the criteria for cars for use by Ministers. Currently, Cabinet Ministers may choose either a diesel powered Jaguar XJ or a Toyota Prius hybrid. Other Ministers may also choose from a Toyota Prius, a Honda Civic hybrid or any other suitable car with a CO2 emission of 185g/km or less.

Kent

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funds in the form of  (a) revenue payments,  (b) capital grants and  (c) supported borrowing for which his Department is responsible have been made available to (i) Kent County Council, (ii) Thanet District Council and (iii) Dover District Council in 2007-08.

Patrick McFadden: The central Government revenue funding to Kent county council, Thanet district council and Dover district council in each year since 1993 is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  000 
			   Kent county council  Dover district council  Thanet district council 
			 1993-94 845,077 7,929 11,394 
			 1994-95 875,246 8,262 11,105 
			 1995-96 754,685 8,088 10,613 
			 1996-97 781,543 8,490 11,381 
			 1997-98 786,516 8,522 11,457 
			 1998-99 699,509 8,338 11,868 
			 1999-2000 755,146 8,582 11,891 
			 2000-01 841,362 9,147 12,297 
			 2001-02 904,878 9,369 12,895 
			 2002-03 960,539 9,646 13,218 
			 2003-04 1,049,759 9,912 14,022 
			 2004-05 1,094,036 9,450 14,432 
			 2005-06 1,129,800 9,774 13,952 
			 2006-07 1,168,806 10,811 15,766 
			  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns 
		
	
	The large differences between 1994-95 and 1995-96 and between 1997-98 and 1998-99 for Kent county council are as result of local authority re-organisation.
	Central Government revenue funding is defined here as the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant, police grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for councils' core services. In past years, it also includes the SSA reduction grant, Central Support Protection Grant, Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Limitation Scheme.
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.
	The amount of capital grants provided to local authorities by central Government is not available. Funding of supported borrowing is included indistinguishably in revenue funding given in the aforementioned table.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much of Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings programme budget  (a) has been allocated in grants and  (b) is available, broken down by funding stream.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 February 2008
	Phase two of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme has a grant budget of 48 million available through one funding stream.
	As of 21 February, 7,813,051.06 had been allocated. Therefore 40,186,948.94 remains available to potential applicants. My Department is currently taking forward work to increase uptake.
	Statistics on grant allocation for phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme are updated daily and are available from the scheme's website at:
	http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/reportsummary.jsp

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what proportion of grants and how much and what proportion of grant money initially committed under phase one of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme prior to April 2007 has not been taken up; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Prior to April 2007, we had committed 8,027,264 to 5,062 household projects through the low carbon buildings programme, of which 2,163,367 (27 per cent. of value) to 1,929 (38 per cent. of applications) have not been taken up.

Low Carbon Buildings Programme: Advertising

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the Department has spent on advertising grants available to households under phase one of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Since the launch of the low carbon buildings programme Phase 1 in April 2006, we have spent approximately 82,000 on advertising the householder grants through our programme contractors, the Energy Saving Trust. This work includes the development of the www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk website, presentations at industry events, and marketing activities through the use of the EST advice network and market segmentation models to target those that are most likely to install microgeneration technologies and apply for grants.
	This does not take into account the work that my officials have done, which includes developing web pages with other Government Departments and industry at:
	www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/incdex.htm
	www. sharp. co.uk/page/solarhowtobuy
	We also raised awareness at a national and regional level through the issuing of a press release in December 2007 that focussed on the low carbon buildings programme.

Office of National Statistics: Finance

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding is provided by regional development agencies to support the Office of National Statistics' regional operations; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The RDAs have collectively provided 940,000 in 2007-08 to support the ONS' regional operations.

Post Office: Expenditure

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1205W, on post office: expenditure, when the Managing Director of Post Office Ltd will reply to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye.

Patrick McFadden: I understand that the managing director of Post Office Limited will reply shortly.

Renewable Energy

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the electricity generating capacity of installed I wind power,  (b) solar photovoltaics and  (c) geothermal technologies in the UK was in each of the last five years (i) in total and (ii) broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is as shown in the following table. Regional data on a consistent basis are not available before 2003. In 2006 Scotland had 48 per cent. of the capacity to generate from wind, Wales had 18 per cent., the north west of England 7frac12; per cent., the east of England 6 per cent. and Northern Ireland 5frac12; per cent with the remaining 15 per cent. shared between the other seven English regions. While the overall growth in the capacity to generate from wind between 2003 and 2006 was 163 per cent. some regions experienced very big increases because they began from very low levels while increases in other regions were more modest.
	
		
			  Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from wind and solar photovoltaics, 2003 to 2006( 1) 
			  MW 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Wind 
			 England 164.1 238.1 364.6 531.9 
			 East Midlands 1.3 (2) 6.1 54.6 
			 East 8.8 67.3 89.2 119.7 
			 North East 16.3 36.0 30.7 33.8 
			 North West 57.2 55.8 63.8 149.0 
			 London (3) (3) (2) (2) 
			 South East 1.7 (2) 93.4 93.4 
			 South West 43.9 43.9 45.1 45.2 
			 West Midlands (3) (3) (2) (2) 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 35.0 35.1 36.2 36.3 
			  
			 Wales 232.3 230.9 329.8 359.0 
			 Scotland 308.3 412.0 746.5 946.5 
			 Northern Ireland 37.9 45.2 117.5 110.2 
			 Other sites(4) (3) 7.5 3.6 3.7 
			 Micro wind generation (5) (5) 3.6 3.8 
			 UK total(6) 742.7 933.7 1,565.5 1,955.0 
			 Solar photovoltaics(7) 6.0 8.2 10.9 14.3 
			 (1) At the end of December each year. (2 )Data cannot be shown because of the small number of sites providing information for these cells. Instead the data are included under other sites (see note (4)). (3 )Nil or less than half the final digit shown. (4 )Other sites are sites that have not been attributed to a region so that data related to individual companies are not disclosed. (5 )Not available (6) Includes 0.5 MW of shoreline wave. (7) The solar photovoltaics figure for 2006 was revised in December 2007.  Note: Components may not add exactly to totals because of rounding.  Sources:  Energy Trends September 2007, pages 16 to 25. Tables 2, 5a, 6a and 7a of 'Renewable energy in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2006'. 
		
	
	The estimated UK generating capacity of solar photovoltaics and micro wind generation are not available broken down by region. There is only one site using the energy from geothermal sources in the UK and this does not generate electricity.

Wind Power

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many Vesta-type wind turbines have been built in the UK; and what recent checks on their safety have been carried out.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department does not keep statistics according to the brand of wind turbine. However, according to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) the number of onshore and offshore Vestas-type wind turbines that have been erected in the UK to date is 1,182.
	Vestas carries out detailed safety inspections as part of a documented service and maintenance regime. In addition Vestas has taken the additional precautionary measure of implementing a Critical Component Inspection regime on all their turbines.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what formal mechanisms exist for non-governmental organisations funded by his Department to provide feedback on the effectiveness of UK aid in Afghanistan.

Shahid Malik: In the UK, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) meet quarterly with representatives of the UK Government on Afghanistan. These meetings are an opportunity for the UK Government to update NGO stakeholders on the UK strategy and progress in Afghanistan; and for the UK Government to receive feedback on all elements of the comprehensive approach, including on DFID's aid programme.
	In Afghanistan, 97 members from the national and international humanitarian, reconstruction and development NGOs community are co-ordinated by the Agency Co-ordinating Body for Afghan Relief (ACBAR). Some NGOs are implementers of DFID funded, but Government owned, National Priority Programmes. ACBAR are represented at monthly meetings of lead donors and Afghan Government representatives on the Government of Afghanistan's own plan for reconstruction and development, the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS).

Burma: Overseas Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on the delivery of UK restrictions imposed by the Burmese military regime on international aid agencies working inside Burma.

Shahid Malik: All aid agencies working in Burma have to operate within a context of restrictions on travel by international staff and difficulties for international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in obtaining Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) from the Burmese regime.
	In recent weeks the regime has emphasised the importance it attaches to international NGOs in Burma operating strictly within the terms of their MOUs. In January, the Ministry of Health held a meeting to remind NGOs of their existing guidelines. Since then, most NGOs have been able to continue their work effectively. More recently however a number of NGOs have been asked to curtail particular aspects of their operations in some parts of the country. These additional restrictions appear to be related to the regime's sensitivities over external contacts with Burmese civil society in advance of the constitutional referendum planned for May.
	The Department for International Development, along with other donors in Burma, are keeping the situation closely under review.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the objectives of the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund are; when Government funding will be provided to the fund; whether non-governmental organisations will be involved in delivering the objectives of the fund; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund (DCPSF) aims to support local level peace building and reconciliation through the provision of essential services and livelihood support. The fund will operate in areas where there is local security and where community leaders have committed to a dialogue on peace.
	The UK pledged 5 million to the DCPSF on 28 October 2007, and we expect to disburse 1 million by April 2008.
	The UK is on the DCPSF steering committee, which includes non-governmental organisations (NGOs), donors and the United Nations (UN). Projects will be implemented by NGOs and UN agencies.

UN Convention Against Corruption

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful prosecutions have been brought since the adoption of the UN convention on corruption in cases related to the provisions of the convention.

Gareth Thomas: No specific statistics are held on prosecutions related to criminal offences covered by the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by Senior Civil Service staff in his Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The Department has a team within its Human Resources division that deals with all SCS issues. This team does not keep records of reimbursable expenses. The information is not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts as there are no separate accounting lines for senior civil service staff.
	The information requested may be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Departments and agencies have authority to reimburse expenses incurred by their staff in connection with their employment, subject to the conditions set out in section 8 of the Civil Service Management Code which state that departments and agencies must:
	reimburse staff only for expenses which they actually and necessarily incur in the course of official business;
	comply with the additional conditions and rules on travel, relocation expenses, compensation for loss or damage to property, and overseas expenses set out in sections 8.2 to 8.6 of the Code; and
	ensure that their rules provide for claiming recompense, including verification and authorisation.
	All expenditure on expenses is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety that are based on the principles set out in Government Accounting and supported by the Department's published internal guidance.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department's budget.

Michael Wills: The UK Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continues to work very closely with both the Women's National Commission and the Women's Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
	In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
	In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate Departmental expenditure statistics by gender.
	This Department takes seriously its responsibilities to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment and will shortly be publishing its gender equality scheme, the first since the creation of the Ministry of Justice, which will set out a range of activity in support of these aims.

Departmental Travel

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of travel undertaken by officials of his Department and its predecessor was in each year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The spend on travel undertaken by officials is not separately identifiable in the Department's accounts.
	The Department's annual accounts show travel, subsistence, and hospitality in one line, and where it may be possible to separate the travel and subsistence element, to distinguish the travel element from this figure may be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The Department has published rules for official travel in its staff handbook, and all travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidelines set out in the 'Civil Service Management Code'.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers', copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by staff grade;
	(2)  how much his Department and its agencies spent on  (a) first and  (b) other class travel by Eurostar in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: It is not possible to list the costs spent on first class travel by the Department in the last 12 months as the expenditure is not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts and may be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	Travel by Eurostar is not separately identifiable, as the Department does not book travel with Eurostar directly as a supplier. Central Guidance states that all Departmental travel should be booked via our Booking Agent, and although we get itemised bills, these are coded to a general travel and subsistence expense code. The identification of Eurostar bookings may be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code' and 'Travel by Ministers', copies of which are available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members. All official travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the 'Civil Service Management Code', a copy of which is also available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members.

Magistrates Courts: Leeds

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the inquiry into the resulting and warrant processes at Leeds magistrates court will report; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: In my statement to the House on 29 November, I committed to publishing the Joint Inspectorate Report and to making a statement to Parliament. The report was published on 11 March accompanied by a written ministerial statement.

Prisoners: Repatriation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost of repatriating foreign prisoners held in UK prisons in the last 12 months, broken down by country of origin.

Jack Straw: In 2007, foreign prisoners held in England an Wales were repatriated under Prisoner Transfer Agreements to the following countries to continue serving their sentence:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Belgium 10 
			 Cyprus 2 
			 Dutch Antilles 5 
			 France 3 
			 Germany 2 
			 Ireland 5 
			 Italy 1 
			 Lithuania 1 
			 Norway 2 
			 The Netherlands 75 
			 Poland 1 
			 Spain 2 
			 Switzerland 1 
			 Turkey 1 
		
	
	In each case the flight and escort cost of transferring the prisoner from the United Kingdom to the receiving State was met by that State.
	The repatriation of prisoners from Scotland is a matter for Scottish Ministers and the repatriation of prisoners from Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Prisons: Contracts

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the value of the initial contract awarded to each contracted-out prison currently in operation was; and what the operational cost of each contracted-out prison was in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Information on the value over the life of the contract and the expenditure for each contracted prison is provided in the following table. Information on expenditure has previously been published on the Prison Service website in the annual accounts 2002-03, NOMS website in the office for contracted prisons statement of performance for 2004-05 and 2005-06 and the pre-audited financial information for contracted and commercial SLA prisons 2006-07. Information for 2003-04 was previously provided in a written ministerial statement.
	
		
			 Expenditure () 
			  Prison  Date of award of contract  Value over the life of the contract( 1) ( million)  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 Altcourse (DCMF) 20 December 1995 247 over 25 years 33,836,207 31,782,463 31,220,612 32,739,936 32,154,593 
			 Ashfield (DCMF) 1 July 1998 121 over 25 years 19,984,049 19,808,188 16,706,138 13,662,084 9,820,999 
			 Bronzefield(2) (DCMF) 20 December 2002 219 over 25 years 21,170,132 20,065,025 (3) (3) (3) 
			 Doncaster (MO) 20 June 2000 140 over 10 years 21,455,301 20,367,274 19,230,566 19,097,051 19,252,815 
			 Dovegate (DCMF) 27 September 1999 240 over 25 years 23,238,361 23,234,391 23,060,909 23,584,223 24,511,442 
			 Forest Bank (DCMF) 6 July 1998 197 over 25 years 23,277,701 22,736,186 21,887,576 21,783,463 20,821,813 
			 Lowdham Grange (DCMF) 7 November 1996 137 over 25 years 13,741,280 13,094,659 12,941,163 13,004,116 13,159,649 
			 Parc (DCMF) 4 January 1996 266 over 25 years 36,939,202 33,539,477 32,365,812 32,529,421 31,322,995 
			 Peterborough(4 )(DCMF) 14 February 2003 291 over 25 years 26,308,125 (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 Rye Hill (DCMF) 23 July 1999 154 over 25 years 14,746,072 14,722,833 14,401,669 14,935,111 14,103266 
			 Wolds (MO) 5 January 2003 45 over 10 years 8,070,803 6,861,220 7,097,441 6,776,755 8,504,900 
			 (1) The value over the life of the contract is based on the net present value (NPV) calculated for the winning bidder at the award of the contract. The NPV is a standard method used for the financial appraisal of long-term projects and is calculated in accordance with the HM Treasury Green Book. This information has previously been published. There is no direct relationship between the annual value of the contract shown and the NPV for the whole life of the contract. (2) HMP Bronzefield did not open until June 2004. Part year information was excluded from the analysis. (3) Not open. (4) HMP Peterborough did not open until March 2005. Part year information was excluded from the analysis.  Note: Expenditure figures have different elements included reflecting different management and financing arrangements for:  Manage Only (MO) establishments, the expenditure figures include: Payment to contractors Controller Team based at establishment  Design, Construct, Manage and Finance (DCMF) expenditure figures include: As aforementioned for Manage Only Adjustment for the capital repayment element in contractual payments.

Prisons: Coroners

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by his Department on legal representation and advice on each coroner's case into a death in prison service establishments (including secure training centres) in each of the last four years.

Maria Eagle: Inquests into deaths in prison custody are inquisitorial fact-finding processes, heard by a Coroner with a jury. The information is not available in the requested format but HM Prison Service's legal costs since April 2004 are as provided in the following table. They include the costs of the Treasury Solicitor, Counsel's fees and other disbursements. Comparable legal costs in respect of secure training centres are mostly incurred by the private companies who run the centres.
	
		
			  Prison service inquest costs 
			
			 2004-05 901,000 
			 2005-06 1,547,000 
			 2006-07 1,670,000 
			 2007-08 1,962,000 
			 Total 6,080.000

Burma: Ethnic Groups

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the assassination of the General Secretary of the Karen National Union, Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to raise the assassination of the General Secretary of the Karen National Union  (a) with the regime in Burma,  (b) with the Royal Thai government and  (c) the United Nations.

Meg Munn: The death of the Secretary-General of the Karen National Union, Pado Mahn Sha, on 14 February, further underlines the need for a comprehensive and equitable settlement of Burma's ethnic conflicts. The failure of the regime's roadmap to meet the aspirations of the ethnic groups, including the Karen, for a greater degree of autonomy, is fuelling internal divisions and violence.
	We continue to raise a range of issues relating to the ethnic groups with our partners in the region, internationally and with representatives of the ethnic groups themselves, including the exile community. I raised the issue of the death of Pado Mahn Sha with the Thai Minister of Interior during my visit to Thailand on 29 February. Meeting the aspirations of the ethnic groups was a fundamental demand in the UN presidential statement of 11 October 2007.

China: Human Rights

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Chinese delegation last visited the UK as part of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue; when he expects such a delegation to next visit the UK; and with what frequency such visits have taken place in the last three years.

Meg Munn: A Chinese delegation last visited the UK as part of the 15th round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in February 2007. The dialogue rotates between London and Beijing and we expect to receive the next Chinese delegation as part of the 17th round in the UK later this year. There have been two UK visits as part of the dialogue in the last three years. In addition, during our presidency of the EU, the UK hosted a third visit in December 2005 as part of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Outside this process, we continue to welcome a range of Chinese delegations with interests in governance and rule of law issues.

Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals meets; and where the minutes of its meetings are published.

Meg Munn: The committee normally transacts business by correspondence. It met three times during 2005 and 2006 to consider papers relating to the programme of reform of the honours system Minutes are not published.

Committee on the Grant of Honours Decorations and Medals

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals uses when making recommendations to Her Majesty on whether foreign campaign medals may be accepted; and whether these criteria have ever been set aside.

Meg Munn: The criteria are set out in the Government's Rules Governing the Acceptance and Wearing of Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals by Citizens of the UK and Her Overseas Territories. The Pingat Jasa Malaysia required a special exception in 2006. Similar exceptions were made for medals from the Saudi and Kuwaiti Governments after the First Gulf War, as well as for the Greek War Medal, in 1992.
	I will arrange for copies of the Rules Governing the Acceptance and Wearing of Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals by Citizens of the UK and Her Overseas Territories to be placed in the Library of the House.

Cyprus

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Greek and Turkish governments to encourage reconciliation in Cyprus following the Cypriot presidential election.

Jim Murphy: The new government in Cyprus, and its declared aim of making rapid progress towards a negotiated settlement which reunifies the island, has inspired hope in both communities in Cyprus, and sympathetic interest worldwide. Our contacts with the governments of Greece and Turkey confirm that they too wish to capitalise on this sense of hope. We will continue to urge all parties with an interest in Cyprus to support the efforts of the UN, and to seize the opportunities presented this year.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the possible impact of the International Criminal Court's investigations of  (a) Mathieu Ngudjolo,  (b) Germain Katanga and  (c) Thomas Lubanga on the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The arrests of Mathieu Ngudjolo, Germain Katanga and Thomas Lubanga send a strong message that the international community is determined to hold those guilty of atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to account for their actions. Efforts to prosecute militia leaders who commit the most serious abuses against the civilian population in DRC should continue, both as a matter of justice for their victims and to serve as a deterrent against future acts of violence. There is no evidence that the enquiries into Ngudjolo, Katanga and Lubanga by the International Criminal Court have had any impact on security in DRC.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department's budget.

Meg Munn: The Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continue to work very closely with both the Women's National Commission and the Women's Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
	In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within Government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
	In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate departmental expenditure statistics by gender.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), for its part, supports a wide range of global initiativesbilateral and multilateralto tackle the barriers to gender equality including gender stereotyping, violence against women, social and cultural attitudes and discriminatory laws and practices. These initiatives include funding projects overseas which protect and promote women's rights, playing an active role as an elected member of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and in other international forums including the EU and the Council of Europe, supporting their respective initiatives on gender equality, and maintaining a regular dialogue with Governments to help improve the human rights situation for women world-wide.
	As part of the FCO's gender equality scheme, published in April 2007, the FCO is considering how best to champion world-wide the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the UN General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/61/143), adopted in December 2006, on violence against women.
	The FCO's view is that gender should not always be seen as an isolated policy area, unconnected to our other work. As such we have sought to mainstream gender into foreign policy, wherever possible and appropriate, byfor examplesupporting and encouraging the involvement of women in peace negotiations, reconciliation work and in political and public life more broadly.
	In all its work to promote gender equality the FCO works closely with other Government Departments, particularly the Department for International Development and the Department for Communities and Local Government, as well as non- governmental organisations active in this sector and the Women's National Commission.

Departmental Sick Pay

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of sickness pay to staff within his Department was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) pays staff who are absent due to sickness their normal salary initially. Once staff have been absent for six months, within a rolling period of 12 months, they are paid half their normal salary. Staff on sick leave may continue to receive salary at half rate for up to six months in a four year period before they cease to receive any salary.
	In 2007 the FCO paid an estimated total of 2,152,183 in salary to UK-appointed staff during periods when they were absent from work due to sickness. This figure does not include statutory sick pay.

Embassies: Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether  (a) foreign embassies which are composite hereditaments and  (b) domestic properties which are solely occupied by diplomats will be liable to pay charges for the collection of household waste.

Meg Munn: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the Climate Change Bill, including proposed charges for the collection of household rubbish.
	Diplomats' liability to pay dues, taxes and charges is dependent on the exact terms of any relevant legislation and our obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This will be considered at the appropriate stage.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of chemicals used to make explosives and propellants for rockets and bombs being smuggled into Gaza disguised as EU aid; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are aware of reports that attempts were made to bring Potassium Nitrate into Gaza in sugar bags labelled as European Union Aid. The UK welcomes the European Commission's statement on this issue on 30 December 2007 that:
	Based on the information received, it appears that these bags cannot be confused with any kind of European Union humanitarian aid. We would consider it an isolated criminal act and we condemn it.
	The European Union distributes its food aid through UN agencies, rather than directly.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions his Department issued criticisms of  (a) Hamas and  (b) Hezbollah for firing rockets into the State of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Howells) issued statements on 27 and 28 February condemning unreservedly the barrage of rockets on southern Israel from Gaza, that left one man dead and several others injured. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the rocket attacks on 2 March. There can be no justification for the almost daily rocket and mortar attacks on Sderot and the surrounding area. The Government continue to call on all Palestinian factions to stop attacks, including rocket attacks, which target civilians and only escalate an already tense situation. At the same time, Israel must ensure its actions are in accordance with international law. It is important that all parties find a way to restore calm, for the sake of the populations on both sides. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to the Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, conveying his deep concerns and condolences on 28 February.
	During the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel the UK issued numerous statements condemning the firing of rockets by Hezbollah into Israel. During the 2006 conflict we also repeatedly called on Israel to ensure its response was proportionate and avoided civilian casualties. Since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, we are not aware of any instances when Hezbollah has fired Rockets into Israel.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether  (a) the UK and  (b) other countries through the UN have organised medical aid to assist the casualties in the recent Gaza-Israel conflict; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are deeply concerned about the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and Southern Israel. In the Gaza strip, emergency medical assistance is mainly provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. The Government support the Ministry of Health through the European Commission's funding mechanism known as PEGASE (Palestine European De Gestion Et D'aide Socio-Economique). The Department for International Development has provided 41.6 million to Palestinians in 2007-08 with 18.45 million going through the PEGASE and the Temporary International Mechanism this financial year. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross, World Health Organisation and the UN Relief and Works Agency regularly import medicines into the Gaza strip.

Nigeria: Armed Conflict

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions  (a) he,  (b) members of his Department and  (c) UK representatives in Abuja have had with the Government of Nigeria on the failure of peace talks with militant groups in the Niger Delta; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Our High Commissioner in Abuja discussed the situation in the Niger Delta with President Yar'Adua in January. Following this, and ongoing discussion with Nigerian Government officials in Abuja and London, we are not aware that dialogue between the Nigerian Government and militant groups in the Niger Delta has come to an end. A meeting on the Gulf of Guinea Energy Security Strategy (to include UK and Nigerian Government representatives) is scheduled for later this month and there are still plans for a Niger Delta summit, which would engage the Nigerian Government and communities in the region in structured dialogue.

Nigeria: Peace Negotiations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has  (a) offered and  (b) provided to the government of Nigeria on (i) President Umaru Yar' Adua's peace initiative in Niger Delta and (ii) a renewed attempt to initiate peace talks; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: It is important that the Nigerian authorities provide a strong lead in finding a solution to the problems of the Niger Delta. However, the UK remains open to discussing ways in which we can add value. The underlying causes of the crisis in the Delta remain poor governance, instability and underdevelopment All of these must be addressed if a sustainable peace is to be realised. The UK has offered its support in all these areas and continues to encourage the Nigerian government to address the situation in the Niger Delta as a priority. The UK supports a number of projects in the Niger Delta, including on community empowerment and government transparency. We continue to urge all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue towards the resolution of the problems of the Niger Delta.

Nigeria: Peace Negotiations

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received of the peace talks between the Nigeria government and militant groups in the Niger Delta; what assessment his Department has made of the possibility of the re-engagement of all parties in peace talks; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are aware of ongoing discussion between the Nigerian government and various militant groups in the Niger Delta. The UK will continue to urge all parties to engage in peaceful dialogue towards the resolution of the problems of the Niger Delta.

Nigeria: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on the abduction of a German construction worker in the Niger Delta; how many UK citizens are  (a) working and  (b) resident in the Niger Delta; what assessment his Department has made of the security situation in the Niger Delta since 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) received reports that a German national was kidnapped approximately 30 km west of Port Harcourt on 4 March 2008. He was taken into creeks in the Niger Delta but was released 12 hours later into State Security Service custody. Three members of his escort team were killed during the abduction attack. Currently 803 British nationals are registered with our high commission in Abuja as residing in the Niger Delta (Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa states), Most of these residents work in the oil industry. Registration with our high commission is voluntary, though the high commission has an ongoing strategy to encourage UK nationals to register.
	The abduction of the German national on 4 March 2008 was the first kidnap of an expatriate in the Niger Delta since 21 October 2007. Since January 2006, however, 36 British nationals, including one child, and more than 180 other foreign nationals have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta area, with one British national being killed. Despite the lull in expatriate kidnappings since October 2007, kidnappings of Nigerian
	nationals have continued, as have threats and attacks against oil installations The FCO continues to advise against all travel to the Niger Delta (Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, including Port Harcourt) and advises British nationals in these states to leave. We also advise against all travel to riverine areas of Cross River state and against all but essential travel to Akwa Ibom state because of the high risk of kidnapping, armed robbery and other armed attacks.

Treaty of Lisbon: Referendums

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information the Government has obtained from surveys and opinion polls on the opinions of  (a) hon. Members and  (b) the public on a referendum on amendments to the European Treaties.

Jim Murphy: The Government have not obtained any information from surveys and opinion polls on the opinion of hon. Members on a referendum Lisbon treaty.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not commissioned any opinion polling on the Lisbon treaty.

EU Defence Policy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2053W, on EU defence policy, how many times votes took place under qualified majority voting in the European Defence Agency; and on what topics.

Des Browne: Three votes have taken place in the European Defence Agency (EDA) using Qualified Majority Voting. These were:
	an amendment to the Staff Regulations on parental and family leave; the deletion of Chapter III of the Draft Revised EDA Procurement Rules; and
	the insertion of a paragraph on conciliation in the Draft Revised EDA Procurement Rules.

Warships: Sales

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which  (a) Royal Navy and  (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships have been sold to foreign governments since 2004; and what the sale price was in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: The following list contains all Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships sold on a government-to-government basis:
	
		
			  Date of the contract of sale  Sold to  Price ( million) 
			 Financial year 2004-05 None  
			
			 Financial year 2005-06 Chile 134 
			 HMS Norfolk   
			 HMS Grafton   
			 HMS Marlborough   
			
			 Financial year 2006-07 Estonia 32 
			 HMS Sandown   
			 HMS Inverness   
			 HMS Bridport   
			
			 Financial year 2007-08 Brazil 5.2 
			 RFA Sir Galahad   
		
	
	The above sale price figures represent the total revenue for the MOD and industry together. For those vessels sold on a government-to-government basis there is usually an agreement with industry for regeneration and modernisation work.